New figures from Save the Children have shown that Wales has the highest rate of children living in severe poverty in the UK. Commenting, Eleanor Burnham, Welsh Liberal Democrats Children and Young People spokesperson said:
“It is absolutely despicable and shameful that children are living in poverty in 21st century Wales. What is even worse is that we have the highest rate of children living in severe poverty in the UK. I fear that as the ongoing economic downturn continues, many more children will be living in poverty.
“Children living in poverty start life on the wrong foot and as a Liberal Democrat committed to fairness, I find it abhorrent that the Labour-Plaid government in Cardiff and Labour government in Westminster are failing to meet their 2010 target of halving child poverty.
“The Labour UK Government is key to tackling child poverty, as it has the direct economic levers available to eradicate child poverty. One of the main priorities for the Liberal Democrats is to give children a fair start in life by directing money at children from poorer and disadvantaged backgrounds. Our tax plans will also bring thousands of households out of paying income tax and make it easier for thousands more to make it to the end of the month.
“Economic poverty among children leads to a poverty of goals and ambitions which damages our whole nation and it continues the vicious cycle of families living in poverty from one generation to the next. This vicious circle must be broken. Child poverty is social injustice at its worst.”
Jenny Willott, Welsh Liberal Democrat MP for Cardiff Central and Member of the Work and Pensions Select Committee, also commented:
“It is appalling that while Wales has half the number of children in Scotland, there are more children living in extreme poverty in Wales.
“Labour’s complex tax and benefit system means that for many it simply does not pay to work. There are more children living in low income households with a working adult than ever before.
“Labour’s tax policies have completely failed nearly 100,000 Welsh children. But the Tories tax plans would make things even worse.
“Tory tax breaks for couples where one adult works full time, would do nothing for the vast majority of children in poverty, especially working single parents, those working part-time or couples where both work. It will be so small, it won’t make any difference.
“We need a fundamental reform of the tax system if we are to tackle the rising levels of extreme child poverty in Wales. The Liberal Democrats would reform the system so people pay nothing on the first £10,000 they earn.
“This would mean over 220,000 people in Wales would pay no tax whatsoever. It would also cut the tax bill for 840,000 low and middle income earners by up to £700 a year.”
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