Reacting to figures released this week that show child poverty stands at 39% in Hackney, 43% in Islington and 31% in Waltham Forest, Caroline Allen, Green Party London Assembly candidate for the North East constituency, which incorporates the boroughs, said:
" I believe it is now harder to get out of poverty than it has been at any time in recent history.
“This is conclusive evidence that the idea of wealth dripping down to the capital’s poorest is a damaging and nonsensical idea.
“Successive government’s policies have just made the rich richer and entrenched poverty.
““That the North East London constituency has two of the boroughs in the top four for child poverty levels is shocking, but sadly is not a surprise.
“Islington is known by many for its restaurants and cafe culture and of course as the home of Tony Blair and New Labour. However, there has always been another side to Islington and what we have seen here is inequality spiralling out of control under a Labour government followed now by coalition cuts that are affecting those on low incomes much more severely.
“Loss of the EMA, job insecurity, changes to housing benefits, to name just a few will surely only makes these figures worse next year across London, unless of course those affected are forced out of the City, will all the stress and disruption that brings to families and children.”
The figures can be found here.
Caroline Allen had this related letter published in the Islington Tribune.
