When Labour came to power in 1997 the previous conservative government left a situation where relative child poverty (60% of median income) before housing costs were 27 % (3.4 million) and after housing costs were 34% (4.3 million), the absolute poverty figures (60 percent of median income adjusted for prices) before housing costs were 37% (4.7 million) and after housing costs were 44.1% (5.6 million).

On Leaving power in 2010 and when the Tory/liberal Government took over the child poverty figures for relative poverty before housing costs were 20% (2.6 million) and after housing costs were 30% (3.9 million).  The absolute poverty figures before housing costs were 18 per cent of children (2.4 million) and after housing costs were 27 per cent (3.6 million). https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/325416/households-below-average-income-1994-1995-2012-2013.pdf

So even with all their problems, UK labour managed to put a big dent into child poverty. For example, the absolute poverty after housing costs figure saw a reduction of 2 million children.

So even with all their problems, UK labour managed to put a big dent into child poverty. For example, the absolute poverty after housing costs figure saw a reduction of 2 million children.

Today saw the publication of the figures for 2013/14.  The child poverty figures for relative poverty before housing costs were 17% (2.3 million) and after housing costs were 28% (3.7) million). The figures for absolute poverty before housing costs were 19% (2.6 million) and after housing costs were 31 per cent (4.1 million).

The figures had remained the same since 2012/13.  Similarly, new measures of child deprivation introduced in 2010 showed deprivation at 13% and todays 2013-2014 show child deprivation still at 13%.  The Tories had the disgraceful gall to gloat about these figures at Westminster because they were unchanged from 2012/13. https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/437246/households-below-average-income-1994-95-to-2013-14.pdf

The Tories have the audacity to gloat about poverty in 2013-14 when the impact of their policies that year meant that Trussell trust food banks handed out emergency food to over 900,000 people.

Rather than providing evidence for politicians to gloat, these figures provide proof, if you ever needed it, that 4 years Tory/Liberal policies did nothing to improve the lives of the most deprived children.

Rather than providing evidence for politicians to gloat, these figures provide proof, if you ever needed it, that 4 years of Tory/Liberal policies did nothing to improve the lives of the most deprived children.   Indeed, the response of the Tory government tells you a lot about their priorities – they have had no strategy since 2010 for reducing poverty and merely clutch at the straw of stagnant figures to provide themselves with a limp weapon with which to attempt to fend off their critics.

Of particular note is the fact that previous estimates were confirmed and we now know for sure that the Tory/Liberal government added 500,000 children to the absolute poverty after housing costs figure in the last government (up to 2014).  Had the Tories had the same success as labour you would have expected an 600,000 reduction in absolute child poverty – so just stop and think about that.

In 2014 there were 1.1 million more children in absolute poverty after housing costs than would have been the case if the Liberals had not enabled the Tories to halt the reduction in child poverty that had begun during the previous Labour governments.

In 2014 there were 1.1 million more children in absolute poverty after housing costs than would have been the case if the Liberals had not enabled the Tories to halt the reduction in child poverty that had begun during the previous Labour governments.

Whilst gloating about child poverty figures they should be ashamed of, the Tories also chose to ignore the massive increase in disabled people (up 300,000) and Pensioners (up 100,000) experiencing absolute poverty.  Yes those are the children, pensioners and disabled people who were all supposed to be safe with No vote.

Looking at Scottish figures on absolute poverty after housing costs there is some suggestion that Scottish government policies may have mitigated the impact of Tory welfare reform.  Scottish figures having in 2013-2014 seen a reduction of 10,000 (down to 210,000) from the previous years.

This drop is not replicated in UK figures on absolute poverty after housing costs.   However we shouldn’t get too carried away with this drop as we are simply where we were in 2010 where there were also 210,000 children experiencing absolute poverty after housing costs in Scotland.