The charity Child Poverty Action Group has praised Kerry McCarthy, the Member of Parliament for Bristol East for pledging to become a ‘Child Poverty Champion’ working in her constituency to end child poverty by 2020. Kerry has also pledged to work in parliament on national action that will held end child poverty for all UK children.
Kerry said:
“I believe it is absolutely essential that our Government uses the resources we have in this country to tackle inequality that sadly exists. Every child should have the opportunity to grow up in a world free from deprivation and with access to education. Tackling child poverty has been an issue that has been central to my motivation to enter politics and one that still drives me today.”
Shan Nicholas, Chief Executive of Child Poverty Action Group, said:
“All the main parties have committed to ending child poverty by 2020, but Kerry stands out as one of the first to have signed a personal pledge committing to action. It is important MPs understand the leadership role they can take in their area to bring partners together like local councils, schools, service providers and the voluntary sector, as well as showing public leadership by raising public understanding of child poverty in their constituency.
“Britain has one of the highest child poverty rates in Europe and this has an appalling impact on the life chances of many children. There is no reason why British children should suffer more than our neighbours and we are delighted that Kerry is so strongly committed to ending child poverty.”