The charity Child Poverty Action Group has praised Alex Cunningham, the Member of Parliament for Stockton North for pledging to become a ‘Child Poverty Champion’ working in his constituency to end child poverty by 2020. Alex Cunningham has also pledged to work in parliament on national action that will help end child poverty for all UK children. Alex said:
“Child poverty is an issue close to my heart and must be tackled in order to give children in Stockton North and across the country a stronger chance in gaining a better future. In Government, Labour helped 500,000 children out of relative poverty. I worry that the coalition’s agenda of cuts will serve to increase the numbers of children living in relative poverty. George Osbourne’s emergency budget confirmed my fears, with the news that Child Benefit will be frozen for three years.”
Shan Nicholas, Chief Executive of Child Poverty Action Group, said:
“All the main parties have committed to ending child poverty by 2020, but Alex Cunningham MP stands out as one of the first to have signed a personal pledge committing to action. It is important MPs understand the leadership role they can take in their area to bring partners together like local councils, schools, service providers and the voluntary sector, as well as showing public leadership by raising public understanding of child poverty in their constituency.