'Ending child poverty must be our goal' says Bridget Fox

1.52.00pm GMT Mon 10th Jan 2005

The Joesph Rowntree foundation has produced a report on child poverty, calling for long-term solutions. The report shows that Islington has 6 wards where 50% of the children are living in poverty. These wards are Bunhill, Mildmay, Holloway, Finsbury, Caledonian and Clerkenwell.

Bridget says "Islington's media image conceals the real deprivation that affects our borough. It's shameful that in a rich country, in the 21st century, so many people are still living in poverty. I welcome the work of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation in highlighting this most important issue. As a Liberal Democrat Council we are working hard to improve Islington, modernising housing and schools, to help the quality of life in the borough for everyone. Nationally, Liberal Democrats are working to secure the long-term changes that will make such poverty a thing of the past."

Nationally, Liberal Democrats have a raft of policies to tackle child and family poverty, including:

Alleviate child poverty by paying an additional £200 per year to all families with children who have been on income support for more than a year.

Scrap the Child Support Agency and deal with the collection of child support payments through the tax system instead.

Campaign to improve the take-up of benefits and free school meals

Abolish Labour plan's for a 'baby bond' payable at age 18 and instead invest in services for under 5s now, when they need it

Abolish the unfair council tax, replacing it with one based on ability to pay

New top tax rate of 50% on income over £100,000 to invest in better public services

Reform the target-driven New Deal and help families find the best balance between work and family care to suit their children's needs

In Islington, the Liberal Democrat Council is already working with partners to secure real improvements for people in Islington

Best ever GCSE results, giving young people a better start in life

Securing investment for new children's centres including 'beacon' nurseries

Forming an ALMO to secure investment in the borough's social housing

Making best use of planning gain to get new affordable homes, jobs and health care for Islington