None of the party manifestos would reduce levels of child poverty, new research from the Resolution Foundation has found.
The report warns that plans by the Conservatives could increase child poverty to record highs, and even Labour’s £9bn extra spending would not be enough to see current rates fall despite 550,000 fewer children being in poverty.
The think tank warns the Conservatives would make no changes to existing welfare policy, which could see child poverty reaching a 60-year high of 34%.
Plans by Labour would halt this rise, but would not reverse the £5bn benefits freeze that could see more children living in poverty in 2023 than they do today.
Laura Gardiner, research director at the Resolution Foundation, said: ‘Against the backdrop of major cuts, the parties’ manifestos do offer big choices on social security.
‘Under the Conservatives little is set to change, and child poverty risks reaching a record high in the coming years. Labour and Liberal Democrat pledges to spend £9bn more would mean child poverty being over 500,000 lower than under Conservative plans. However, this would not do enough to see child poverty fall from today’s already high levels.’
