Three Manchester Parliamentary Constituencies appear in the national  top twenty as having the highest levels of child poverty across the UK in 2015.
In a report released today by the group End Child Poverty, No 2 is Manchester Central with 44.8%, No 6 is Manchester Gorton 42% and No 11 Blackley and Broughton 40.3%.

The figures put Manchester next to bottom in the national ranking of local authorities, only London Tower Hamlets comes lower.

The End Child Poverty coalition says there are more than 3 and a half million children living in poverty in the UK, and the new figures reveal that 27% in the North West are living in poverty.

“This is not a country that works for everyone. In every community, there are children being denied the happy childhoods and the good start in life other children take for granted. Our children are now twice as likely to be poor as our pensioners.We urge the Chancellor to reverse the significant cuts to Universal Credit targeted at working families and shield children’s benefits from inflation.” says End Child Poverty Chairman Sam Royston

Tom Skinner, spokesman for Greater Manchester Poverty Action said “The latest local child poverty figures show the scale of the problem facing us here in Manchester. With Manchester having the second highest levels of child poverty in the country, we need to do more to make sure the local economy works for all.
“Our biggest fear is that the situation will get worse because of the introduction of the new benefit cap which sets a limit on the total amount in benefits that most working-age people can claim.

“For single parents with children younger than 5 years old this cap could be devastating. Trying to find affordable childcare or part-time work that pays enough to keep a roof over their heads is already challenging – as witnessed by the figures released by End Child Poverty but the cap will reduce further the support they can claim. Charities across Greater Manchester are bracing themselves for the increased demands that the benefit cap will inevitably create.”

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