Action for Children responds to the Labour Party's Manifesto launch

Paul Carberry, chief executive of Action for Children, said:

"You can’t give our children their future back or kickstart growth without ending child poverty, which is making all of us poorer.

"Labour’s proposed strategy to reduce child poverty won’t get off the ground until they ditch the cruel two-child limit and benefit cap policies. We urge them to think again on this.

"We want to see the Labour Party – and all political parties - commit to ending child poverty in the UK once and for all."

On barriers to work:

"We have repeatedly called for more investment in personalised employment support to help disadvantaged parents and young people overcome barriers to work, as outlined in our recent Barriers to Work report series, so we welcome Labour’s plans.

"Commitments to improve job security and flexibility are important, but we need more detail on the reforms to sick pay, carers’ leave, and strengthening expectations and enforcement of reasonable adjustments so there is better support for parents getting back into work."

On child criminal exploitation:

"We welcome the commitment to introduce a new offence of criminal exploitation of children focused on the gangs who lure young people into crime. As outlined in our recent Jay Review of criminally exploited children, any new powers for the police and the courts must be firmly targeted at exploiters, and not at teenagers who are themselves trapped in cycles of exploitation and violence. These changes must be part of a new national strategy for tackling the exploitation of children across the UK.

"It’s encouraging to see plans for greater early intervention through local prevention partnerships, which we know from our services are key to protecting vulnerable children from exploitation. This needs to be supported by investment in specialist, evidence-based services for children who have been criminally or sexually exploited."

On Young Futures Hubs:

"We would urge Labour to think carefully about how these new hubs would support and integrate with existing services, particularly with family support services, with schools around SEND provision, with CAMHS and with local safeguarding partnerships. As well as how the universal drop-in offer will be delivered alongside the specialist, targeted interventions aimed at reducing youth violence and crime."

On children in care:

"It’s concerning to hear little commitment today to the reform of children’s social care, two years on from the Independent Review of Children’s Social Care recommendations.

"Councils are buckling under the financial pressures of supporting ever-rising numbers of children entering care, which is drawing resources away from early help services that can be a lifeline for struggling families and help break the cycle.

"We agree that every child should have a loving secure home, but without reform the current system will continue failing the needs of vulnerable and disadvantaged children. We urgently need, whoever forms the next government, to rebalance the system to earlier intervention and support, and improve the capacity and quality of care placements."

ENDS

MEDIA CONTACT

Huw Beale, Action for Children – 07704 814 628 / [email protected]

Out of hours: 020 3124 0661 / [email protected]