When voters head to the polling stations in Gorton and Denton this Thursday, they hold the future of over 6,000 local children in their hands.
These young boys and girls are set to benefit from the removal of the controversial two-child rule starting on April 1st. Some families with low incomes will see an increase of nearly £70 per week as a result.
Child poverty continues to affect almost half – 48% – of all children in the constituency. In Longsight, an alarming 73% of children are growing up in poverty.
As the child-friendly changes by the Labour government roll out in April, these statistics are expected to significantly decrease, bringing a sense of hope and improvement in educational outcomes for children.
The government’s efforts to combat poverty are taking shape through the introduction of more breakfast clubs, free school meals, and additional Sure Start centers. These initiatives aim to lift children out of poverty, offering them new opportunities.
Recently, the Reform party expressed its support for the abolition of the two-child rule. However, they now plan to reinstate the rule, a move that critics argue will push children back into poverty.
Contrary to Reform’s claims that only workless parents benefit from the policy changes, statistics show that six out of ten affected children have at least one working parent. Additionally, three out of ten children are either too young, sick, or disabled, making it challenging for their parents to work.
With the majority of children living in families striving to make ends meet, the narrative of lazy, workshy parents perpetuated by the right-wing is inaccurate and unjust.
The upcoming by-election presents a choice between supporting children’s continued journey out of poverty with Labour’s local candidate, Angeliki Stogia, or reverting to the conservative policies of the past.
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