Gordon Brown warns of the 'worst figures for child poverty in living memory' with 4.3 million plunged into poverty

15 May 2024, 19:28 | Updated: 15 May 2024, 19:43

Gordon Brown warns of 'worst figures for child poverty in living memory'
Gordon Brown warns of 'worst figures for child poverty in living memory'. Picture: Alamy / LBC

By Danielle de Wolfe

Gordon Brown has told the UK to prepare for "the worst figures for child poverty in our living memory," as he warned that 4.3 million children are no longer having their basic needs met.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

Speaking on Tonight with Andrew Marr, the former Prime Minister and Chancellor of the Exchequer highlighted the need for an increase in basic pay, noting simple policy measures can often "save more money than [they] cost".

"I’m seeing families that are having to choose between eating, heating and keeping clean," he admitted.

"I meet mothers who have to queue up at food banks because even after a whole week’s work, they can’t earn enough to make ends meet."

Highlighting that child poverty was "because of low pay and not unemployment", the former PM warned that the UK is currently facing a level of poverty many "thought we’d banished that for good".

Gordon Brown says investment in reducing child poverty 'has to be made'

"There is a degree of poverty that I really thought I wouldn’t see again in my lifetime - and I grew up in a mining and textile town, which had a large amount of poverty," said Mr Brown.

"It is returning, and I think we’re about to see the worst figures for child poverty in our living memory - and that is something that is both saddening but also challenging. We've got to do something about it."

The former Chancellor spoke of the need for investment where working families are concerned, highlighting the fact a third of children now live in poverty, adding: "That's 4.3 million children."

Read more: Row over 'get out of jail free cards': Starmer mocks Sunak for banning rainbow lanyards in prison reform clash at PMQs

Read more: 'Foolish and disrespectful' Sunak should apologise for Scottish Nationalism remarks, John Swinney tells LBC

Highlighting his job was not to "be a backseat driver", the former Chancellor said he "admired' what Sir Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves were trying to achieve.

Noting measures that could sure up child poverty under the next government, Mr Brown pointed out that raising the hourly pay by as little as 50p "could take 500,000 people out of poverty".

He explained that unlike the UK, many European banks do not pay interest on some reserves held by commercial banks, he suggested that following suit could make as much as £3 billion available.

The former Chancellor spoke of the need for investment where working families are concerned, highlighting the fact a third of children now live in poverty, adding: "That&squot;s 4.3 million children."
The former Chancellor spoke of the need for investment where working families are concerned, highlighting the fact a third of children now live in poverty, adding: "That's 4.3 million children.". Picture: Alamy

He added that a Social Impact Fund "could raise a billion", adding that more often than not simple measures "save more money than [they] cost".

Emphasising the need to keep the Household Support Fund - which is due to end in September, the former Labour leader added that all of these measures "don't actually effect the fiscal rules".

"Release money to do things like reforms [to] the Universal Credit system," he added.

"We need a stratergy to help the low paid get better paid and the unemployed back to work."

It comes as Sir Keir Starmer mocked Rishi Sunak's government's focus on banning civil servants from wearing rainbow lanyards.

The Labour leader added that letting 'dangerous' criminals out of prison early was not the answer.

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Sting, Billie Eilish, Rod Stewart, Stevie Wonder and Lady Gaga are among the stars performing at a huge benefit concert in Los Angeles to help the area recover from recent devastating wildfires.

Lady Gaga and Rod Stewart pay tribute to LA fire victims at star-studded fundraiser concerts

People claiming disability benefits are getting "unacceptably poor service" from the Government as they wait on average 10 times longer for their calls to be answered

‘Unacceptably poor service’ - disability benefit claimants wait 10 times longer for calls to be answered

Online shopping fraud rose quickly to cost consumers more than £56 million last year, marking an increase of 20% in shopping scams.

Online shopping fraud rises 20% costing consumers more than £56 million in one year

Trump is under fire for linking the plane crash to diversity hiring

'Despicable': Trump under fire for linking Washington plane crash to diversity - as he jokes about swimming in river

Trump said on Thursday that the US will start imposing 25% tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico from Saturday, which will likely have a dramatic impact on the economy.

Trump imposes 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico from February 1 with China to follow, setting up trade war

Exclusive
Abadi Ismail witnessed the crash

'Like a war zone': Washington plane crash witness describes scene of horror he saw from his window

Prince Andrew and Jeffrey Epstein kept in touch longer than the duke had previously said

'We'll play some more soon': Prince Andrew's message to Jeffrey Epstein two months after he said contact ended

Mick Jagger and Marianne Faithfull in the gardens at Mount St Margaret Hospital, Sydney, 27 July 1969

Mick Jagger leads tributes to late ex-girlfriend and Sixties pop icon Marianne Faithfull

Selena Lau (L) and Nuria Sajjad (R), both eight, died in the incident at The Study Prep school in Wimbledon, south-west London, in July 2023 while celebrating the last day of the summer term.

Driver bailed after SUV ploughed into Wimbledon primary school tea party and two 8-year-old girls killed

Amy Dowden

Strictly star Amy Dowden suffers 'four to five blackouts a day' as she shares worrying health update

The recovery operation is focused on the Potomac River

Donald Trump pins blame for Washington plane crash that killed 67 people on diversity hires

Marianne Faithfull.

Beloved pop singer and actress Marianne Faithfull dies aged 78

Exclusive
Geoffrey Hinton

'Godfather of AI' warns 'alien superintelligence' could replace humans - and no one knows how to make it safe

Lincolnshire Police

Police force to cut 200 officers amid 14 million budget shortfall

Watts and Samson

Murderer who was out on licence when he killed woman in Croydon handed life sentence

Connor Slade was found dead at a primary school in Wales.

Pictured: 13-year-old boy found dead at primary school named as tributes pour in