Prime Minister Keir Starmer has launched his government's flagship child poverty strategy, pledging it will lift over half a million children out of hardship in what he calls Labour's "moral mission." Writing exclusively, Starmer condemned the legacy of the previous Conservative government, which he said left an extra 900,000 children growing up in poverty.
The Human Cost of Tory Neglect
Starmer framed the issue as a fundamental breach of British fairness, arguing that no child's future should be limited by their background. He pointed to the stark reality for families: skipped meals, cold bedrooms, and worn-out school uniforms. "How can that be fair?" he asked, stating unequivocally that such hardship has no place in modern Britain.
The Prime Minister drew on personal experience, recalling his own family's struggles in the 1970s when bills piled up and their phone was cut off. This, he said, informs his government's urgent action. The centrepiece of the new strategy is the abolition of the controversial two-child benefit limit, a move that alone is projected to lift 450,000 children out of poverty.
Labour's Multi-Pronged Attack on Poverty
The government's plan addresses both in-work and out-of-work poverty, recognising that three quarters of children in poverty now live in working households. Key measures announced include the expansion of free school meals to an additional half a million children, a crackdown on exploitative baby formula pricing, and the rollout of free breakfast clubs in schools nationwide.
Further support targets family finances directly. The recent budget included an energy bill cut of £150 to £300 for poorer households, while free childcare has been expanded. Looking ahead, the minimum wage will see another rise next April, aimed at boosting the incomes of cleaners, carers, and shop workers.
An Investment in Britain's Future
Starmer argued that tackling child poverty is not just a moral imperative but a sound economic investment. He cited evidence that it leads to better job and training prospects for young people and reduces long-term pressure on the NHS. The Prime Minister revealed that nurses had told him directly about the number of children arriving at hospitals with health issues linked to poverty.
Concluding his argument, Starmer drew a clear political dividing line: "Tory Governments let it rise. Labour Governments cut it." He positioned the strategy as the fulfilment of a promise made after Labour's election landslide in the summer, asserting that politics can and does make a tangible difference in securing a fair start for every child.
