Child poverty figures for south Cumbria labelled a 'disgrace'

Since a study was carried out two years ago by the End Child Poverty coalition (ECP) looking at the nation's worst off families, it says in some parts of the UK child poverty has jumped up by almost 10 per cent. In four out of the six parliamentary constituencies in Cumbria more than 20 per cent of children live in poverty.

The total number of children estimated to be living in poverty in Cumbria is 19,980.

Local politicians have labelled the figures a "disgraced" with stinging criticism levelled at the government from Labour MP John Woodcock and Lib Dem MP Tim Farron.

In Barrow, where according to the study there are 4,140 children in poverty, Mr Woodcock said it was tangible evidence of the government's failure towards the county's youngsters.

He said: "The statistics released today are a stark reminder of just how much this government is letting down our kids. No child should grow up in poverty, and no parent should be unable to feed or clothe their children.

"In central Barrow the figures are shocking, with 46 per cent of children growing up in poverty, and 24 per cent across the Furness constituency. I am just devastated that a quarter of our children are suffering like this under this Tory government.

"The rise in child poverty nationwide shows the dire consequences of policies such as the freeze to child benefit and the two child policy. We are swimming against the national tide but this just shows the importance of the work we are doing locally to ensure the major investment coming into the area can benefit our whole community and not leave poorer areas behind like previous decades."

Conservative MP for Carlisle, John Stevenson, said getting people back into work was key to reducing poverty statistics. In the city 22.5 per cent of children - 3,746 youngsters - are thought to live in poverty.

Mr Stevenson: "It is always very sad to see or hear children potentially being in poverty. What matters is making sure we have opportunities for families to get good quality jobs that are well paid, and making sure they get the right direction to skills.

"I think in civic society you have concern for the least well off and want to make sure they have the opportunities that others have. We need a safety net working, the benefits system is there, and when I speak to the job centre they are trying to target those in most need."

However, in the south MP Tim Farron was scathing in his analysis of the situation in Westmorland and Lonsdale. Although the constituency is regarded as one of the more well-off areas of Cumbria, its child poverty rate is 15.5 per cent, equating to 2,168 children.

He said: "In the South Lakes we’ve seen a worrying rise in the use of food banks and over the past year. I’ve regularly had people turning up to my surgeries who are in desperate need. I’ve spoken to local head teachers who fear that their children won’t eat properly over the school holidays.

"But, these figures really do hammer home just how serious this situation is. House prices have rocketed at the same time wages have been kept low and people have lost vital in-work benefits.

"The Government must immediately do everything they can to tackle this because for so many children in Westmorland and Lonsdale to be living in poverty is nothing short of a disgrace."

Copeland Borough Councillor for Mirehouse, in Whitehaven, Mark Holliday, said the council would be taking quick action in light these poverty revelations. The study found 3,368 Copland youngsters were in poverty.

Cllr Holliday said: "The statistics are shocking but not necessarily surprising. It is clear that we’re living in a society where unfortunately children are going to school hungry. There are no positives from this statistic but at least it does highlight that it is an issue that needs to be further up the agenda. The council will be setting the health and wellbeing priorities in the coming weeks, and child poverty will be at the top."

MP for Copeland, Trudy Harrison, was also contacted for comment.

The far-reaching study carried out by the ECP in partnership with Loughborough University was based on tax credit data from local authorities, as well as estimations on the number of parents out of work.

A child is deemed to be in poverty if they live in a family earning less than 60 per cent of the national median household income - £248 per week.

Sam Royston, chair of End Child Poverty and director of policy and research at the Children’s Society, said: "It is scandalous that a child born in some parts of the UK now has a greater chance of growing up in poverty, than being in a family above the breadline. There can be little doubt that the government’s policy of maintaining the benefits freeze despite rising prices is a major contributor to the emerging child poverty crisis."

In response to this accusation a spokesman from the government highlighted its work in bringing more people back into the workforce.

He said: "The best route out of poverty is through employment, and since 2010 an extra three million more people are now in work and 600,000 fewer children are living in workless households. But we recognise that budgets are tight, and that’s why we’re helping families keep more of what they earn.

"We’ve doubled free childcare – worth £5,000 per child each year – while our £2.5bn pupil premium programme is supporting two million disadvantaged schoolchildren across the country."

Cumbria Child Poverty - A breakdown

Figures released by the End Child Poverty Coalition show that in Cumbria there are close to 20,000 children in poverty.

Broken down in to the county's parliamentary constituencies Barrow and Furness has the highest number of children living in poverty, with 4,140. Second is Carlisle with 3,746 and third is Workington, with 3,646.

Full local figures

Parliamentary constituencies

Barrow and Furness: 4,140, 23.5 per cent

Carlisle: 3,746, 22.5 per cent

Workington: 3,646, 23.7 per cent

Copeland: 3,368, 22.6 per cent

Penrith and The Border: 2,912, 19.2 per cent

Westmorland and Lonsdale: 2,168, 15.5 per cent

Total: 19,980

Local authorities

Carlisle: 4,464

Allerdale: 4,290

Barrow-in-Furness: 3,551

Copeland: 3,087

South Lakeland: 2,754

Eden: 1,827

Total: 19,973

What the study's authors say

The End Child Poverty coalition is a group comprised of more than 100 charities, lobbyists, faith groups and welfare organisations.

Its chief executive Sam Royston, who chairs End Child Poverty and is director of policy and research at the Children's Society, said: "It is scandalous that a child born in some parts of the UK now has a greater chance of growing up in poverty, than being in a family above the breadline.

"There can be little doubt that the Government's policy of maintaining the benefits freeze despite rising prices is a major contributor to the emerging child poverty crisis.

"No family in modern Britain should be struggling to put food on the table, heat their homes and clothe their children. End Child Poverty is calling on the Chancellor to end the freeze on children's benefits, and to invest in interest free credit for low income families, to ensure that poverty doesn't result in spiralling debt."

Dr Mary Bousted, joint general secretary of the National Education Union, commented: "These are shocking figures. It is nothing short of a disgrace that, in one of the wealthiest countries on Earth, there are constituencies where more than half of children are growing up in poverty."