City child poverty must be addressed

Figures that show more than 17,500 Wearside children are living in poverty are truly worrying.

A poverty map of the city has been compiled by the Echo from figures released by the End Child Poverty Coalition, and it is not a pretty sight.

It shows almost a third of the city’s youngsters are suffering financial hardship – and in parts of Sunderland that rises to 45%.

The figures show some of the most deprived areas of the UK have seen the biggest increases in child poverty since the last report in 2015.

A child is said to live in poverty if they are in a family living on less than 60% of median household income. According to the latestofficialstatistics,60%ofmedian income (after housing costs) was about £248 per week.

The city’s MPs and Sunderland City Council officials have put the blame firmly at the door of the current Government, with the roll-out of the controversial Universal Credit, spending cuts and lack of support coming under fire.

Coun Louise Farthing, Sunderland City Council’s cabinet member for children, learning and skills, said: “We have seen over the last eight years a systematic dismantling of the support systems brought in between 1997 and 2010 and it is no surprise that child poverty increases as a result. The solution to this problem lies in Whitehall, and the Government needs to give local councils the resources they need to tackle the problem.”

Sharon Hodgson, MP for Washington and Sunderland West, who was previously Shadow Minister (Public Health) and member of the Children, Schools and Families Committee, said she wouldbechallengingtheGovernment over the figures.

And MP for Houghton and Sunderland South Bridget Phillipson meanwhile said: “It is simply unacceptable that in the 21st century, so many children continue to grow up in avoidable poverty. It is especially concerning that two thirds of those growing up in poverty come from working families.”

We agree. Something must be done to improve working families’ conditions. Cutting child poverty should be a priority for any government, irrespective of party politics.