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Support the P20 as well as the G20 says End Child Poverty - 31st of Mar, 2009
As leaders of the world’s richest economies gather for the G20, the Campaign to End Child Poverty is calling on the Government to support children in the Poverty-20, the 20 UK constituencies with the highest levels of child poverty.
The campaign, the UK’s largest coalition of children’s charities and other organisations, is publishing figures on its website indicating rates of child poverty in UK parliamentary constituencies, local authorities and wards.
Birmingham, Ladywood is the constituency with the highest level of child poverty, closely followed by Bethnal Green and Bow, Birmingham, Sparkbrook and Small Heath and Manchester Central.
In Edinburgh, near to where the Chancellor Alistair Darling is an MP, 94% of children in Greendykes and Niddrie Mains ward live in poverty, or are in families struggling on low incomes.
Hilary Fisher, director of the campaign, said, “We're deliberately drawing attention to the fact that, at a time when the G20 richest nations are meeting to bail out the world's richest economies, there are still children suffering terrible hardship in this country's 20 poorest constituencies. That's why we're calling our figures the P20."
Clare Short, MP for Birmingham, Ladywood, where 81% of children live in poverty, said the Government’s response to the global crisis should include helping children.
She said, “Britain should use the G20 meeting to call for a worldwide effort to counter the recession by improving the lives of poor children. This should be followed by a big boost for poor families in Britain in the budget. It could be paid for by a special tax on the excessive income of the bankers who have, by their greed, wrecked the global economy.”
One of her struggling constituents, Shazad Zaman, who lives in Ladywood, said, “It’s all very well leaders pouring money into banks but does it ever reach people like me who have to choose between keeping their families warm or buying food?”
The ExCel centre where the G20 leaders are meeting is in the constituency of Poplar and Canning Town, which has one of the highest rates of child poverty in the country.
Kevin Jenkins co-founder of Community Links, a nearby charity that works with disadvantaged families, said, “It’s ironic that the G20 is meeting here. Child poverty will be all around the leaders and I would ask them not to ignore it as these children’s situation is bound to be made worse by the economic situation. “
Research carried out ahead of the G20 for the Campaign to End Child Poverty found that nearly four out of ten people believe low-income families are the most deserving of Government money following the bail out of financial institutions.
Hilary Fisher said: “Children are our future and the Government should not forget families while it takes action to stabilise the world’s financial markets. It needs to invest at least £3 billion in tax credits and benefits to safeguard the future of UK children living in poverty.”
Notes to editors For more information, an interview with Hilary Fisher, or help with case studies, please contact Chloë Bryan-Brown 020-7278 3405, media@ecpc.org.uk
The top 20 parliamentary constituencies with the highest levels of child poverty are listed on the Campaign to End Child Poverty website www.endchildpoverty.org.uk/why-end-child-poverty/poverty-in-your-area
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