Government policy to push 'children into poverty'

The figure was calculated on the basis of policies implemented by the coalition government since 2010 and those that are planned to be introduced before 2015.

A freedom of information request carried out by CPAG also found that the Welfare Benefits Up-rating Bill, which will cap rises in a number of benefits to 1 per cent rather than the level of inflation, will push 200,000 children into absolute poverty.

CPAG also claims the government has failed to make any assessment of the impact of the bill on children. Members of the House of Lords will vote later today on whether to exempt children’s benefits from the 1 per cent uprating cap.

Imran Hussain, head of policy at CPAG, said: ‘These alarming figures reveal that not only are the poorest families in the country being left behind compared to everyone else, but also that their living standards are going into reverse as they struggle to absorb the impact of wave after wave of policy decisions that hit families with children the hardest. 

‘This is not just about pace and scale of cuts, it boils down to ensuring that our children are not on the front line of austerity.’