Poverty statistics: Govt needs to take “long hard look” at statistics before condemning thousands more to this fate

EMBARGO: Immediate Release

Responding to the latest poverty statistics showing that 28% of children, 23% of working-age adults and 11% of pensioners were in material deprivation in 2024, Liberal Democrat Work and Pensions spokesperson Steve Darling MP said:

“The Government needs to take a long hard look at these statistics. It would be staggering if they can still countenance sending, by their own admission, hundreds of thousands more people into these desperate circumstances through their welfare cuts.

“We all share the Government’s ambition to bring the welfare bill down by getting more people into work but cutting support for those who need it to get into work or even those that cannot work is nonsensical.

“If the Government was serious about bringing down welfare spending it would get serious about fixing social care. Not waiting three years for a review that can be completed by the end of this year.”

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

The statistics can be found here.