800,000 more children from working households living in poverty since 2010, report finds

One in four now grow up in relative poverty, thanks to in-work benefits cuts and weak wage growth, says TUC

The TUC claims government policies accounted for most of the in-work poverty increase (Getty)

The number of children growing up in poverty in working households has increased by 800,000 since 2010, a new study suggests.

The TUC said its analysis indicated that child poverty in working families rose to 2.9 million cases last year, an increase of 38 per cent since the start of the decade.

In 2010, one in five children in working households were growing up in poverty, but by 2018 this had increased to one in four, the union organisation found.

The TUC claims government policies accounted for most of the in-work poverty increase.

More than 485,000 children in working households have been pushed below the breadline as a direct result of the government’s in-work benefit cuts, the TUC said.

Weak wage growth and more insecure work were also factors behind the rise in child poverty, the union added.

TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady said: “No child in Britain should be growing up in poverty, but millions of parents are struggling to feed and clothe their kids.

“The Conservatives’ cuts to in-work benefits have come at a terrible human cost. As too has their failure to tackle insecure work and get wages rising across the economy.

“We need a government that puts working families first, not wealthy donors and hedge funds.”

Margaret Greenwood, shadow work and pensions secretary, said: “The Conservatives and Lib Dems should hang their heads in shame for nine years of austerity which has left working families struggling to feed their children, as shown by these new shocking figures.

“How we care for and protect our children is a mark of a civilised society. The TUC’s figures show just how badly Conservative and Lib Dem coalition governments have failed them.”

PA