BARNSLEY Central MP Dan Jarvis said he’s ‘deeply concerned’ about new ‘shocking’ destitution statistics.
New research from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation has found that since 2017 the number of children experiencing destitution has almost tripled - an increase of 186 per cent.
Dan told the Chronicle: “I’m deeply concerned by this new data.
“No child in Britain should grow up in poverty and it is completely unacceptable that one million children are living in destitution.
“Child poverty is an issue that I have raised continuously throughout my time in Parliament, including through my Child Poverty in the UK (Target for Reduction) Bill, that would have set a target to reduce child poverty and put a duty on government to meet it.
“Shamefully the Tories talked it out.
“The Tory government have had thirteen years to tackle child poverty, but they’ve failed.
“I know families across Barnsley - and the country - are struggling with the cost-of-living crisis and making heart-breaking decision between eating and heating.
“The government must get a grip and ensure every child has the best start in life.”
