6 h. ago Labour’s child poverty strategy is a great step forward for social justice

Editorial: Lifting the two-child benefit limit – at a cost of £3bn – will improve the life chances of more than half a million young people. For this government, it is a move in the right direction

Society

13 h. ago Four major pledges in Keir Starmer's plan to tackle child poverty

Keir Starmer has said Labour's 'moral mission' is to fight child poverty as he launched a blueprint to lift over half a million kids out of poverty by the end of the decade

Politics

15 h. ago Labour announces plans to lift 550,000 children out of poverty – UK politics live

Starmer hails child poverty strategy as a ‘moral mission’ which will include measures to help with childcare and getting families out of temporary housingThere’s a lot of reaction coming in on the plan – some believe the new elements aren’t ambitious enough and it’s just a consolidation of previously announced measures. But here is the full strategy from Keir Starmer’s government, 16 months in, to tackle and reduce the rate of child poverty in the UK.There are around 4.5 million children living in poverty in the UK currently – a historic high. Continue reading...

Politics

17 h. ago Give credit where it’s due: Labour is finally doing things its supporters actually want | Gaby Hinsliff

From tackling child poverty to being honest about Brexit, the party seems to have recognised the growing electoral threat to its leftWhat does it take for a small child not to recognise their own name? I’ve been thinking about that for days, since reading the Local Government Association’s recent report on a growing crisis in early childhood. We’ve known for a while about children starting school still in nappies, or speaking in Americanisms absorbed from hours stuck in front of YouTube, or even struggling to sit upright because they’ve spent too long slumped over an iPad to develop core muscles. So sadly, it’s not surprising to read of early-years workers telling the LGA they see more and more pre-schoolers who can barely speak, play with others or contain their rage when things don’t go their way. But it was the practitioner who noted that some children “don’t seem to respond to their name” who got to me. You have to wonder how often that child hears a loving adult trying to get t...

Politics

27 h. ago KEIR STARMER: 'I'm proud we're lifting half a million kids out of poverty

Prime Minister Keir Starmer writes for The Mirror as he launches the government's child poverty strategy first promised in the summer after Labour's election landslide

Politics

45 h. ago Sir Keir Starmer to visit Scots RAF base after deal to build Norwegian navy warships

The Prime Minister is also expected to meet campaigners and MSPs around Glasgow to discuss his Labour government’s child poverty strategy.

Economics

4 d. ago Voters back helping families with policies like scrapping two

The Save the Children and Unicef polling showed across a variety of issues, failing to tackle child poverty was the most likely to damage Labour’s re-election prospects

Politics

1 week ago Reeves to launch crackdown on benefit fraud alongside lifting two

Move aims to bring in extra £1.2bn of savings as government seeks to head off criticism over welfare spendingYou be the chancellor: play our budget gameRachel Reeves will launch a fresh crackdown on benefit fraud at the same time as lifting the two-child limit for universal credit at a cost of £3bn, as ministers seek to head off criticism over rising welfare spending in the budget.The chancellor has made the decision to scrap the two-child limit in full, a move that will be welcomed by Labour MPs who have long highlighted its effect on increasing child poverty.Freezing income tax thresholds for an extra two years to 2030, bringing more people into higher tax bands as wages rise.Making salary sacrifice schemes less generous, including those for pension contributions.A pay-per-mile scheme on electric cars to help fill the tax gap from petrol duty as more people opt for green vehicles.Bringing in higher tax on the most expensive properties, including a surcharge on the highest-value ho...

Politics

3 w. ago Over 100 groups call for Labour to fully scrap two child benefit cap: ‘Do the right thing’

‘Abolishing the two-child limit in full will set millions of children’s lives on a path to a brighter future’, major organisations say

Politics

3 w. ago Minister suggests BBC should apologise to Trump over documentary as president threatens $1bn lawsuit – UK politics live

Alison McGovern speaks to media about BBC crisis as culture secretary due to address MPs in attempt to contain falloutYesterday Rachel Reeves, the chancellor, gave an interview that indicated very strongly that she will get rid of the two-child benefit cap in full in the budget. It had been reported that the government was only going to partially remove it (by replacing the cap with a softer version, like a three-child benefit cap), but Reeves signalled that the cap will go in its entirety.If anyone did not get the message, Keir Starmer has signalled exactly the same intention – only even more strongly. In an interview with Amir Khan, a doctor and ITV broadcaster, the PM said he was determined to drive child poverty down. In the clip, recorded yesterday but broadcast this morning, Starmer said:I can tell you in no uncertain terms I’m determined to drive child poverty down. It is what the last Labour government did. And it’s one of the things we were proudest of. I am personally dete...

Politics

4 w. ago Gordon Brown issues warning as he demands 'total abolition' of DWP two

Former Labour Prime Minister Gordon Brown says levels of child poverty in Britain are shameful and a 'scar on the soul of our nation' in a major speech on Thursday

Events