TUC: UNISON President speaks out against child poverty

TUC: UNISON President Angela Lynes, speaking in the first debate this afternoon on Child Poverty, recognised the vital role child benefit plays in the anti poverty programme and demanded that the Government reaffirms its commitment to eradicating child poverty by 2020.

She condemned policies such as the regressive Budget, the withdrawal of the extension of free school meals and the freezing of child benefit rates for three years.

Recognising that low pay and insecure employment are already consigning children to in-work poverty she called for the widest possible support for raising members awareness of their rights and called on the TUC to co-ordinate a vigourous campaign against any proposals to end the universal reach of Child Benefit.