Labour to tackle '10 modern scourges of poverty'

Labour has pledged to wage war on the 'ten modern scourges of poverty' and reverse the damage of a decade of austerity.

Publishing a new Report, Poverty Britain, which highlights ten ways the Tories have failed to tackle poverty and entrenched hardship in society, Labour claims that wage stagnation under the Conservative government has cost the average worker around £6,300 in lost wages.

The report also found that: food banks have given out 65 million meals in the last five years, the equivalent of a meal for every person in the whole of the UK; there are now over 20 million adults with no savings, an increase of nearly three million since 2010/11; a near 50 per cent increase in the number of children in severe low income and deprivation between 2011/12 and 2017/18; and that in-work poverty has increased by 1.5 million since 2010/11.

John McDonnell, Labour’s Shadow Chancellor, said: “Poverty in Britain is now the most visible and widespread it has been in decades. This new report shows the Tories have failed to tackle ten modern scourges of poverty, each becoming more entrenched on their watch.

“The next Labour government will wage war on poverty in all its forms, eliminating in-work poverty, ending austerity and raising living standards across the country. The choice at this election couldn’t be clearer: more stress and struggle for millions to make ends meet under the Tories or real change with Labour.”

Amongst other pledges, Labour has set out plans to immediately introduce a Real Living Wage of £10 an hour for everyone over 16, scrap Universal Credit, the benefit cap, the Two Child limit and end the freeze on working-age benefits.