New data has revealed that one in three children in Kent are living below the breadline.

In Medway 30% of children are living in poverty, which is higher than the national average.

Cllr Clive Johnson, Councillor for Gillingham South and Medway Labour Spokesperson for Children and Young People said, “The last Labour government made a commitment to reducing child poverty which resulted in 600,000 fewer children living in poverty in 2009. This report shows us that both relative and absolute poverty are now higher than they were in 2010.

“The recent increase in child poverty is a direct result of the austerity policies of the Conservative government, including changes to benefits, taxes, and funding for public services.

“This is no better exemplified than by the fact that 67 per cent of children growing up in poverty live in a family where at least one parent or carer works.

“Children in poverty suffer from poorer health, increased social isolation, and higher levels of instability in their home lives – but failing to address child poverty is not just indecent, it is a false economy. The costs of addressing issues affecting adults who suffered from child poverty (such as higher risk of unemployment and lower productivity) is estimated to be at least £29 billion a year.

“Poverty steals children’s life chances and Medway’s children deserve better, but meaningful investment in our children’s future is not possible under the policies of the current government.”

Cllr Joanne Howcroft-Scott, Labour Councillor for Luton and Wayfield said, “To have such high levels of child poverty is disgraceful especially when we are still the fifth richest nation of the world.

“Next weekend residents and tourists will be in Medway celebrating Dickens festival, but we’re not just going backwards in time for a weekend. Through their socioeconomic policies, this government is allowing the return of severe hardship and recreating Dickensian levels of child poverty.

“Poverty affects children’s learning. Heart-breaking situations arise daily in our schools. Families are in crisis and cannot manage their children’s social, emotional, or physical needs as they are so stressed about money.”

• Centre for Research in Social Policy at Loughborough University, and campaign group End Child Poverty report
• Figures on Child poverty under Labour