A message from the Child Poverty Action Group

"Child poverty has recently reached 4 million - and is projected by the Institute for Fiscal Studies to rise to 5.1 million by the end of the next parliament (assuming it's a five-year term). It's an urgent issue that requires urgent action.

At Child Poverty Action Group we work on behalf of the one in four children in the UK growing up in poverty. We use our understanding of what causes poverty and the impact it has on children's lives to put forward policies that will prevent and solve poverty - for good. And we work with policy makers to identify practical changes that will make a difference to families.

This election, we've outlined five steps in our manifesto that would have a significant impact on the number of children in poverty, and improve the lives of low income families:

1. Prioritise child poverty. With a focused effort, involving local authorities and working towards targets, child poverty can be brought down.

2. Protect families from rising living costs. By restoring the link between need and provision, our social security system can help support families as costs rise. Adding £5 a week to child benefit, and protecting children's benefits with a 'triple lock' (increasing them in line with earnings, inflation or 2.5 per cent, whichever is greater) will help enormously - the triple lock alone will lift 600,000 children out of poverty. Scrapping the benefit cap and the two-child limit on tax credits and universal credit will also reduce child poverty.

3. Make universal credit fit for working families. To ensure universal credit meets its aims, work allowances need to be restored, with an allowance added for second earners. The taper rate needs to be lowered to 55 per cent. Challenges we are finding as universal credit is rolled out - including problems caused by the six-week wait - need to be addressed urgently to make the new system work.

4. Prevent demand for foodbanks. We know that people often use foodbanks because they are unfairly sanctioned or there is a delay or error with their benefits. With better access to benefit advances, hardship payments and local welfare assistance, much of the demand for foodbanks would go away. Sanctions should be a last resort, and everyone should have access to good advice about their benefits.

5. Develop a visionary national childcare strategy. Great childcare ensures families can work - but it is too expensive for many families. A funded strategy, allowing flexibility for parents and quality childcare year-round for children from the age of two, will open up doors for families to work.

You can read the full manifesto here: cpag.org.uk/manifesto. You can find out the level of child poverty in your area on the End Child Poverty coalition website."

Alison Garnham
Chief Executive
Child Poverty Action Group