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From The Socialist newspaper, 8 November 2017
Child poverty set to hit 5.2m - unions and Corbyn must act now
photo Matt J Newman (Creative Commons) (Click to enlarge)
Tom Costello, Lancashire Socialist Party
The Tories' welfare cuts are set to make child poverty soar over the next five years to 5.2 million kids - eleven out of a classroom of 30. The figures come from a damning report by the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS).
Meanwhile, a separate study by the Child Poverty Action group predicts the 'Universal Credit' system will push 900,000 children into "severe poverty" by the end of the decade.
This marks an alarming increase from government figures for 2014-15, which showed four million children living in relative poverty. The IFS has further claimed that the 37% of kids in this bracket could represent the highest proportion since records began in 1961.
Tory attacks on benefits are predicted to affect areas such as Wales and north-east England worst - areas that have already suffered most from the effects of austerity.
Unsurprisingly, the government has no answer to the IFS findings. Its spokesperson just repeated the same, tired old austerity rhetoric: "We are committed to supporting families while making the welfare system fair for those who pay for it and those who benefit from it."
Clearly not for the 5.2 million children who will have no choice but to grow up in poverty!
But the Tories have retreated on a series of policies, and are in the middle of a sexual harassment scandal. Trade unionists and anti-austerity activists joining forces through demonstrations and strikes can bring them down.
The Socialist Party's demands are uncompromising. Raise the minimum wage to at least £10 an hour now. Start a comprehensive programme of council house building. End Universal Credit and reverse benefit cuts immediately.
The Tories - and Blairites - are only ever going to be concerned with the worries of the super-rich. For as long as their rule goes on, working people will lose out from capitalism's regime of austerity. The union leaders and Jeremy Corbyn must call action to oust them now.
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In The Socialist 8 November 2017:
What we think
'Paradise' for billionaires - austerity for us
Socialist Party news and analysis
Westminster sexual harassment scandal
Walk out against tuition fees!
Bosses say 217 years to close pay gap - workers' struggle can close it now!
Child poverty set to hit 5.2m - unions and Corbyn must act now
Workplace news and analysis
Pay cap decisively rejected by PCS union members
BA mixed-fleet workers show strikes get results
Unite union sector conferences: coordinate action over pay
Picturehouse strike: "evil corporations are evil"
International socialist news and analysis
US: Minneapolis Socialist chimes with voters
Ireland: rail workers demand share of 'recovery'
Ireland: dangerous ideas for the ruling class
Spain: Madrid rally celebrates October revolution
Sweden: 'Revolution2017' success
Socialist Party reports and campaigns
Health campaign discusses strategy to save NHS
Chatsworth neuro-rehab ward still open - unions join the campaign
Housing campaigners ask Corbyn to instruct Labour council regeneration ballots
Thousands march in London for Palestine
Opposition to new academy school being built on Leeds playing fields
Orgreave campaigners' Halloween 'Death of Justice' march
Sheffield trees campaigner sentenced to prison
Brum meeting celebrates centenary of 1917
Socialist readers' comments and reviews
Obituary: Derek Robinson, car workers' leader, 1927-2017
Welsh update of Chekhov an engrossing tale of 1980s class conflict
Obituary: Paul Randall, 1959-2017
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