The number of UK children living in poverty has increased to more than a quarter as a result of austerity measures introduced following the 2008 recession, Unicef has said.
The charity said it was “no accident” that child poverty rates have risen in the UK but fallen in 18 other countries including Poland, Germany and Canada – blaming low pay and benefits cuts.
A global report into the effect of the economic crisis on vulnerable children between 2008 and 2012 put the UK 25th out of 41 developed countries, after child poverty increased by 1.6 per cent to 25.6 per cent.
The report also found there was an “unprecedented increase” in severe material deprivation – which measures factors including whether families can pay the rent, heat their homes and afford reasonable diets for their children – in the UK along with Greece, Italy and Spain.
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