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Child poverty

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From: The Socialist issue 970, 8 November 2017: 'Paradise' for billionaires, austerity for us

Search site for keywords: Child poverty - Poverty - Austerity - Children - Welfare - Universal Credit - Cuts - Benefits

Child poverty set to hit 5.2m - unions and Corbyn must act now

photo Matt J Newman (Creative Commons) (Click to enlarge)

Tom Costello, Lancashire Socialist Party

The Tories' welfare cuts are set to make child poverty soar over the next five years to 5.2 million kids - eleven out of a classroom of 30. The figures come from a damning report by the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS).

Meanwhile, a separate study by the Child Poverty Action group predicts the 'Universal Credit' system will push 900,000 children into "severe poverty" by the end of the decade.

This marks an alarming increase from government figures for 2014-15, which showed four million children living in relative poverty. The IFS has further claimed that the 37% of kids in this bracket could represent the highest proportion since records began in 1961.

Tory attacks on benefits are predicted to affect areas such as Wales and north-east England worst - areas that have already suffered most from the effects of austerity.

Unsurprisingly, the government has no answer to the IFS findings. Its spokesperson just repeated the same, tired old austerity rhetoric: "We are committed to supporting families while making the welfare system fair for those who pay for it and those who benefit from it."

Clearly not for the 5.2 million children who will have no choice but to grow up in poverty!

But the Tories have retreated on a series of policies, and are in the middle of a sexual harassment scandal. Trade unionists and anti-austerity activists joining forces through demonstrations and strikes can bring them down.

The Socialist Party's demands are uncompromising. Raise the minimum wage to at least £10 an hour now. Start a comprehensive programme of council house building. End Universal Credit and reverse benefit cuts immediately.

The Tories - and Blairites - are only ever going to be concerned with the worries of the super-rich. For as long as their rule goes on, working people will lose out from capitalism's regime of austerity. The union leaders and Jeremy Corbyn must call action to oust them now.

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Finance appeal

The coronavirus crisis has laid bare the class character of society in numerous ways. It is making clear to many that it is the working class that keeps society running, not the CEOs of major corporations.

The results of austerity have been graphically demonstrated as public services strain to cope with the crisis.

The government has now ripped up its 'austerity' mantra and turned to policies that not long ago were denounced as socialist. But after the corona crisis, it will try to make the working class pay for it, by trying to claw back what has been given.

The Socialist Party's material is more vital than ever, so we can continue to report from workers who are fighting for better health and safety measures, against layoffs, for adequate staffing levels, etc.
When the health crisis subsides, we must be ready for the stormy events ahead and the need to arm workers' movements with a socialist programme - one which puts the health and needs of humanity before the profits of a few.