Adrian Ramsay supports rally to end child poverty

23 September 2008

Green Deputy Leader Adrian Ramsay backed efforts by union members to get the Government to stick to its child poverty pledge at a meeting in Norwich on Tuesday.

The public meeting was organised by local members of the South East Region TUC and the Norwich & District Trades Union Council and aimed to build support for a national rally on 4th October in London, which will be the UK’s biggest event to end child poverty and will include Greens from around the UK.

Councillor Ramsay, who is bidding to replace Charles Clarke as MP for Norwich South at the next General Election, said: “This campaign is vital and I’m delighted to be able to attend this meeting to find out more about how Greens can increase support for the Campaign to End Child Poverty campaign and next month’s rally.

“The Government promised to end child poverty by 2020 and halve it by 2010, but the first target will soon be missed unless urgent action is taken to help poorer families.

“Key to solving poverty is addressing the problem from both sides: by increasing wage levels for the worst paid and by reducing the burden of expenses families carry.  That’s why Greens across the country are campaigning for a living wage for all workers and backing a windfall tax to be spent on immediate relief on utility bills for poor families, as well as free home insulation to cut bills permanently.

“There is no excuse for any more delays to policies that would end child poverty in 21st century Britain. The Government may be failing, but I aim to show that Greens are committed to this cause and have policies that would make a real difference.”

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