UK Child Poverty Strategy Aims too Lift Hundreds of Thousands Out of Poverty
A new UK government strategy focuses on reducing child poverty, with measures including changes to Universal Credit and expanded support for families. A key element of the plan will simplify access to help with upfront childcare costs for working parents receiving Universal Credit.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced the end of the Conservative policy, in place for nearly a decade, that limited Universal Credit or tax credit payments to families with third or subsequent children. Campaigners estimate this policy contributed to an additional 300,000 children living in poverty.
Prime Minister Starmer recently unveiled a policy to implement recommendations from the Competition and Markets authority (CMA) to better inform parents about more affordable baby formula options compared to leading brands.
Further initiatives include an expansion of free school meals in England, funding for increased breakfast club provision, and the establishment of new family hubs modeled after the sure Start program.
Downing Street projects these combined measures will lift 550,000 children out of poverty by 2030 – representing what the government describes as the largest reduction in a single parliamentary term since records began.
The plan, initially slated for spring but delayed due to considerations surrounding the removal of the two-child limit, has been met with positive reactions from poverty charities. Katie Schmuecker of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation praised the government for “putting its money where its mouth is” on its commitment to reducing child poverty, highlighting the removal of the two-child limit as ”the single most effective policy decision.”
Lynn Perry, chief executive of Barnardo’s, welcomed the plan but cautioned that nearly four million children are still projected to be living in poverty in 2029, emphasizing the need for continued societal effort. Alison Garnham, chief executive of the Child Poverty Action Group, described the changes as “invaluable” but stressed they represent “only the first step.”
The removal of the two-child limit was a long-standing demand from many Labor MPs, with Starmer facing internal pressure to address the policy despite personal reservations and awareness of potential political risks.
Starmer stated that too many families are “struggling without the basics,” and affirmed his commitment to addressing this issue, stating, “I will not stand by and watch that happen, becuase the cost of doing nothing is too high for children, for families, and for Britain.” he framed the strategy as a “moral mission” centered on fairness, prospect, and unlocking potential, aiming for “national renewal” with children’s life chances at its core.
