Over 1.5 million more kids would be in poverty today if the Tories had their way
 
JAMES PURNELL MP, Labour's Work and Pensions Secretary, commenting on David Cameron's speech on poverty today, said:
 
"David Cameron says "I want me - and the government I aspire to lead to be judged on how we tackle poverty in office.
 
"Yet despite a 17 page report and four speeches today with no ideas and no commitments, the Tories have still not committed to Labour's ambitious target of abolishing child poverty, instead referring to it as a vague 'aspiration' - another example of Cameron's soulless sales techniques.
 
"Worse though, the Tories today are lowering the bar on child poverty suggesting that child poverty should be measured at 40% of median income. This Tory measure of poverty would abandon 2.5 million children to a life in poverty.
 
"They have never been committed to child poverty and show no signs of changing. Under the Tories, child poverty doubled and in 1997 was the highest in Europe. Had Tory policies continued, child poverty would have risen by a further 1.7 million. In contrast, Labour has reduced child poverty by 600,000 - faster than any other country in Europe."