8 d. ago Voices: Yes, ‘Renewal’ Reeves needs to raise taxes – but how will she pull it off?

The chancellor’s fiscal headroom is already compromised by her commitment to tackle child poverty, writes Sean O’Grady. So she needs luck – and to be more boring than ever – to raise the revenue she desperately needs

Politics

1 week ago The Guardian view on Labour’s tough choices: they are costing the government dearly | Editorial

Austerity-era scepticism runs deep – and Labour’s abstract promises are falling flat as Nigel Farage rises in the pollsThe Labour government’s abrupt U-turn on winter fuel payments – restoring the benefit to more than three-quarters of pensioners – reveals less a change of heart than a sobering realisation in Westminster: after years of austerity, the public no longer gives politicians the benefit of the doubt. The irony is hard to miss. Labour set out to prove that “grown-up” economics means difficult decisions – only to find that once trust is lost, voters won’t accept vague promises without tangible results.It turns out many are sceptical that sacrifices will produce better results for society. That’s why ministers are struggling to justify cuts to disability benefits as a way to “fund” public services – or to convince the public that Britain can’t afford to lift the two-child benefit cap even as ministers claim they will reduce child poverty. There may be more conspicuous retrea...

Politics

1 week ago UN demands major action as damning report shows child poverty impact in England

A report by UNICEF has called on Keir Starmer to lift the two-child benefit limit and recruit hundreds of health visitors as data shows the grim impact on childrens' health and learning

Politics

1 week ago SNP calls on Labour to match Scottish Government action on poverty

The SNP said Scotland is the only part of the UK where child poverty is falling, due to ‘bold’ policies.

Politics

1 week ago The Guardian view on child poverty: free school meals are a help, but not a panacea | Editorial

Giving lunch to more pupils is a good move – but poor nutrition points to deeper problems that ministers must faceIt was Ellen Wilkinson, education minister in the Attlee government, who announced in 1946 that free school dinners would be introduced, along with free school milk, at the same time as child benefit. No doubt Rachel Reeves, who has a picture of Wilkinson on the wall of her office, is aware of this – and also that the Treasury subsequently decided the policy was unaffordable. The meals were subsidised instead.Despite these initial charges, and later price rises, poorer children did gain, and keep, an entitlement to free school meals. The announcement last week that this is being extended in England to all those whose parents or carers claim universal credit – rather than restricted to families with incomes lower than £7,400 – should be welcomed by all objectors to child poverty. Being assured of a hot lunch in the middle of the school day makes pupils’ lives be...

Politics

2 w. ago Northern Ireland public wants to see action on child poverty – survey finds

Save The Children NI also urged the Stormont Executive to unveil the details of their anti poverty strategy.

Politics

2 w. ago Eradicating child poverty must become Labour’s central mission

Editorial: After years when the party seemed to be undeclared disciples of austerity, the government’s conscience – prompted by some shocking electoral setbacks – has been awoken. For the country's sake, as well as its own, children must now be at the heart of everything it does, starting with free school meals

Events

2 w. ago Keir Starmer vows to attack child poverty crisis after free school meals boost

Keir Starmer said expanding free school meals to more than half a million more pupils next year was a 'down payment' on the Governments plans to drive down child poverty

Events

2 w. ago Starmer describes free school meal expansion as ‘down payment’ on child poverty

Ministers have announced plans to expand free school meals to all pupils in England in families on universal credit from September 2026.

Politics

2 w. ago Charities welcome free school meals change but warn ‘more is needed’

Charities and school leaders welcomed the change but urged the Government to reconsider the two-child benefit cap to ease poverty levels.

Events

2 w. ago Rachel Reeves warned child poverty will be higher at next election unless one choice is made

Eleven charities, including Citizens Advice, Save the Children UK, and Trussell, warn that the two-child limit has pulled 37,000 children into poverty since Labour took office

Events

2 w. ago Over 12,000 children supported through Scottish Child Payment by families in West Lothian

The Scottish Child Payment – currently £27.15 per week for each eligible child under 16 – is a key part of the Scottish Government’s mission to eradicate child poverty.

Society

2 w. ago Achieving child poverty target 'could cost £920m a year in benefits'

‘Laser-focused prioritisation’ required by next Parliament to lift 100,000 children out of poverty

Economics

2 w. ago Voices: With families facing impossible choices, Labour’s should be easy

Editorial: New figures shared with The Independent show the extent to which families are relying on baby banks. The government’s plans to tackle child poverty should start immediately

Politics

2 w. ago Surge in parents turning to baby banks as UK’s child poverty crisis laid bare

Exclusive: Celebrities, MPs and campaigners demand to know how this can be happening in this country, as they call for more support for families

Society

2 w. ago ‘The statistics are bad but we’re proud to be from here’: Life in Greater Manchester’s most deprived neighbourhood

Coldhurst is often cited as a regional and national hotspot for some unflattering statistics - most recently regarding child poverty. But peel back the layers and you’ll find a community working to replace lost public services so desperately needed.

Politics

3 w. ago South Lanarkshire Council secure £13.5million for capital and revenue projects

Councillor John Anderson said: “This is a fair chunk of money we are getting here and I would like to welcome it, particularly the money that is going to help unemployability and child poverty."

Economics

3 w. ago Starmer and Farage in ‘race to the bottom’ on child benefit cap, says Badenoch

Campaigners say the cap exacerbates child poverty and has had a minimal impact on birth rate or family size.

Politics

3 w. ago Almost 25,000 children in North Lanarkshire supported by Scottish Child Payment

The relative child poverty rate in Scotland is four percentage points lower than it would be without the policy in place.

Politics

3 w. ago UK child poverty taskforce set to recommend return of Sure Start scheme

Despite praise for Sure Start from some in the Labour party, there are also concerns that resuming the service would be difficult and costlyThe government-backed child poverty taskforce is likely to recommend the return of the early years service Sure Start, the Guardian understands, though there are doubts in government about whether it could be funded.Senior ministers including Rachel Reeves, Liz Kendall and Bridget Phillipson have praised the service in the past, citing it as one of the crowning achievements of the last Labour government. Continue reading...

Politics