MAJORITY OF MPS REPRESENT CONSTITUENCIES WHERE ONE IN FOUR CHILDREN ARE IN POVERTY

MAJORITY OF MPS REPRESENT CONSTITUENCIES WHERE ONE IN FOUR CHILDREN ARE IN POVERTY

For in nation and regional press release, please see here

Embargo: 00.01 Monday June 2

• In two-thirds of constituencies, at least one in four children are in relative poverty after housing costs.
• Overall, 42% of constituencies in the UK have a child poverty rate higher than the national average*
• Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner all represent constituencies with child poverty rates higher than the national average
• Latest data for the year 2023/24 shows the North of England, West Midlands and Wales have the highest number of constituencies with children in poverty.
• Experts find an “extremely high” correlation between child poverty and the two child limit
• Today coalition of over 135 organisations call for UK Government to scrap the policy in full
• Data: https://endchildpoverty.org.uk/child-poverty-2025/

 

LONDON, Monday June 2 – As the UK grapples with record child poverty rates, new analysis from Loughborough University shows two thirds of MPs represent constituencies where at least one in four children are in poverty.

Constituencies with the highest child poverty rates in the UK include Birmingham Ladywood, Dewsbury and Batley and Bradford West.

In the North East, West Midlands and in Wales, around nine out of ten constituencies have a child poverty rate higher than one in four.

In contrast, in Scotland the prevalence of high rates of child poverty is much lower, with only around a third of constituencies having a child poverty rate of 25% or more.

The annual analysis by the Centre for Research in Social Policy at Loughborough University looks at poverty rates after housing costs, which is seen as a more accurate assessment of family income. The UK Government release data that shows poverty levels before housing costs are calculated.

 

The report also finds an “extremely high correlation” between the two-child limit to Universal Credit policy and the proportion of children in poverty in each constituency.

 

Dan Paskins, Executive Director of Policy, Advocacy and Campaigns at Save the Children and Vice-Chair of the End Child Poverty Coalition said: “Each year this data presents a bleak picture of life for the UK’s children. A record number are now in poverty and this is under the noses of our MPs, particularly Cabinet members. Eighty percent of Keir Starmer’s Cabinet represent constituencies with higher than average child poverty rates.

“The time for action is now, and the Comprehensive Spending Review, and forthcoming child poverty strategy should involve bold action. Due to the analysis’ finding a strong correlation between child poverty rates in local areas and the number of children impacted by the two-child limit to Universal Credit, it is essential this policy is scrapped as soon as possible.”

Across the UK, 31% of children in the UK are living in relative poverty, which equates to 4.5 million children with the best available data for the financial year 2023-24.

Overall, 42% of constituencies have a higher than average poverty rate. That includes the Prime Minister, Keir Starmer’s constituency Holborn and St Pancras, which has a child poverty rate of 47%. Other Cabinet members, Secretary of State for Justice, Shabana Mahmood, Northern Ireland Secretary, Hilary Benn and Foreign Secretary David Lammy, all have child poverty rates of over 40%.

Key cabinet figures, Chancellor Rachel Reeves represents a constituency with 32% of children in poverty and Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner’s Ashton-under-Lyne constituency is at 39%.

The UK Government had promised to deliver a Child Poverty Strategy in spring this year to drive down child poverty across the UK. This has now been delayed until autumn. Strategy co-chairs, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Liz Kendall, and Secretary of State for Education, Bridget Phillipson, represent constituencies with child poverty rates of 43.5% and 32% respectively.

Liv, 21, from Liverpool, who is an End Child Poverty Coalition Ambassador, said: “Growing up in poverty is relentless, and it’s never just about money – it is about isolation, shame, and missed opportunities.

“A proper government strategy on child poverty could give us hope. It shows that our experience is heard, and that there’s a commitment to building a fairer society where no child has to grow up feeling less than others just because of their circumstances.”

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*National average for child poverty is 31%. Source: DWP Households Below Average Income Households below average income (HBAI) statistics – GOV.UK

 

 

 

Report:

Local indicators of child poverty after housing costs, 2023/24: Estimates of child poverty after housing costs in parliamentary constituencies and local authorities

 

 

 

 

 

Notes to editor:

For more information, please contact Kate Proctor at Save the Children’s media team at k.proctor@savethechildren.org.uk and media@savethechildren.org.uk or 07824665272

Spokespeople available for interview – call the number above to arrange.

The End Child Poverty Coalition

The End Child Poverty Coalition is made up of over 135 organisations including child welfare groups, social justice groups, faith groups, trade unions and others.

Together with a group of Youth Ambassadors we all believe that no child growing up in the UK should live in poverty.

The work of the Coalition is governed by a smaller Steering Group which is led by the Chair – Joseph Howes, CEO of Buttle UK.

Joseph is supported by two Vice Chairs – Dan Paskins, Executive Director of Policy, Advocacy and Campaigns at Save the Children UK and Alison Garnham, CEO of Child Poverty Action Group.

About the research

The full report ‘Local indicators of child poverty after housing costs, 2023/24’ as well as tables with Constituency and Local Authority data and further information can be found here:

https://endchildpoverty.org.uk/child-poverty-2025/

This research uses a Relative After Housing Costs measure of child poverty. ‘After Housing Costs’ shows the income available to a household once rent, water rates, mortgage interest payments, buildings insurance payments, ground rent and service charges are paid. This enables a more accurate comparison of what households have available to spend on food, utilities, clothing and leisure, than looking at income alone, given the disparity of rents in different parts of the UK.