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[18 January 2007] - The constituencies with the worst rates of child poverty in Britain are revealed today to coincide with Save the Children’s day of action on child poverty. Manchester Central, Liverpool Riverside and Poplar and Canning Town top the list of the 10 constituencies with the worst rates of child poverty in Britain. In these three constituencies about fifty per cent of children are living in poverty, which is double the national average. In the week when the UN revealed that more than half of the world’s population live in cities, these new figures show that British cities - Manchester, Liverpool, Glasgow, London and Birmingham - have by far the worst rates of child poverty in the country. Colette Marshall, UK Director of Save the Children, said: “Despite the boom in affluence, illustrated by ever-rising house prices, these figures show that cities remain the places most scarred by poverty. Families are struggling to cope - especially during winter when the weather turns cold and the bills are high and the financial demands on families become unbearable. Without urgent action this year the Government will fail to meet its own target to end child poverty by 2020.” Top ten: Manchester, Central 54.3% Tony Lloyd Lab In both Tony Blair and Gordon Brown’s constituencies just under a quarter of children are living in poverty (the national average). The Cabinet Minister with the worst rate of child poverty in their constituency is Hilary Benn MP (Leeds Central). Louise Ellman, MP For Liverpool, Riverside said: “700,000 children have been lifted out of relative poverty since 1997 but it is clear that much more needs to be done. We must expand opportunities for education and training and ensure families and children do not fall below the breadline. The government must keep their commitment to eradicating child poverty by 2020." All three major political parties have now signed up to the target of eradicating child poverty by 2020 but these figures reveal the extent of the problem in Britain’s biggest cities. The Government now needs to turn their promises and rhetoric into reality and use the vital opportunities of 2007, the Budget and Comprehensive Spending Review, to change the lives of the poorest children in Britain. Save the Children is calling on the Government to introduce Seasonal Grants to help families at the most difficult times of year. These grants alone would lift 440,000 children out of poverty. Further information
Liverpool, Riverside 49.7% Louise Ellman Lab
Poplar and Canning Town 48.6% Jim Fitzpatrick Lab
Glasgow North East 48.4% Michael Martin Speaker
Tottenham 48.0% David Lammy Lab
Hackney South and Shoreditch 47.5% Meg Hillier Lab
Islington South and Finsbury 47.1% Emily Thornberry Lab
Bethnal Green and Bow 46.3% George Galloway Respect
Regent's Park and Kensington North 45.2% Karen Buck Lab
Birmingham, Ladywood 44.8% Clare Short Ind