[Closed] rejoice child poverty is falling

Hehe. That's the whole problem with the child poverty figure, it's based on a median income figure. The same system would work in Monaco and create some interesting 'poor' children.

A fall in income throughout society in tough economic times has meant that thousands of families have been lifted above the poverty line without their circumstances changing at all

IDS spoke some sense about this on Radio 4 on Weds??

to be fair to ids he is a thinker and is trying to coem up with solutions that are fair to hose in need and exclude those who arent. the child poverty thing is a positive as he said giving them the extra quid makes nodifference technically it could lift a kid out of poverty but how is it life changing esp. if mum uses it for crack

Not directly relevant, but an interesting child poverty lecture from hans rosling:

I've just started working on an 'Identifying Child Poverty' project and some of the material really doesn't make nice reading. Really highlights some of the sh1t going on in society these days.

IDS's political journey since resigning as Tory leader shows politics can be about more than just sound bites and party politics - he has spent years developing his ideas by going beyond policy wonks to the coal face - and now he is trying to do the difficult bit - implement them but he seems to be doing this by making his arguments in a considered way. He has become a very considerable politician.

IDS's political journey since resigning as Tory leader shows politics can be about more than just sound bites and party politics - he has spent years developing his ideas by going beyond policy wonks to the coal face - and now he is trying to do the difficult bit - implement them but he seems to be doing this by making his arguments in a considered way. He has become a very considerable politician.

Yeah, right. Years of developing the idea of moving the goal posts. The trouble with IDS...he's still a tory.

I'll take as gospel from people in the know:

Save the Children chief executive Justin Forsyth said the government should focus "not on changing definitions but on policies that work, like the living wage, affordable child care and on early education programmes targeted at low-income families".

The Children's Society chief executive Matthew Reed said "It is shameful that over the coming decade this progress is likely to be reversed by the government's drastic cuts to support and services for the country's most vulnerable children and families."

"Yeah, right. Years of developing the idea of moving the goal posts. The trouble with IDS...he's still a tory."

Ever taken the time to read "Breakdown Britain" or "Breakthrough Britain" ?

They are two of the most detailed and well researched reports on systemic issues of poverty / opportunity that have ever been produced - on either side of the political fence.

The trouble with IDS...he's still a tory.

And a Tory who likes sound bites and party politics. Which explains why he is so highly regarded in his political party.

He's always right on cue when it comes to pushing the Tory Party line that those who are disabled should be forced to compete for jobs in a Tory created recession hit economy. Or that if the job seekers allowance is too "generous" then people won't feel the incentive to chase non-existent jobs.

Tory Party policies have thrown the country back into recession, it's IDS's job to make sure that the victims are blamed.