UK Launches Ambitious Anti-Poverty Strategy

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer Launches Landmark Child Poverty Strategy

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has unveiled a sweeping new Child Poverty Strategy aimed at lifting over 500,000 children out of poverty, marking what he calls the “biggest reduction achieved by any government.” The announcement was made during a visit to Ely Children’s Centre in Cardiff, alongside members of Changing Realities, a nationwide group of parents and carers with lived experience of low-income hardship.

The strategy places real-life stories, such as that of Stacey from Bristol, at its core. Stacey, a full-time working mother of two who lost her husband in 2018, represents the millions of families balancing employment, childcare, and rising living costs. Starmer emphasised that her experience highlights why the welfare system must function as a true safety net—supporting both working families and those struck by sudden misfortune.

The government’s plan introduces a series of reforms designed to reduce household burdens and improve children’s wellbeing, including:

• Investment in new homes to end reliance on bed and breakfasts for families.
• Free school meals for an additional 500,000 children.
• Expanded childcare support for Universal Credit recipients.
• New rules lowering the cost of infant formula.
• Limits on the number of branded school uniform items parents must buy.
• Abolition of the two-child benefit limit.

Starmer stated that the strategy is closely linked to broader cost-of-living measures such as expanded free childcare, free school breakfast clubs, reduced household energy costs, and an increase in the minimum wage.

A “Sound Investment” in Britain’s Future

The Prime Minister argued that reducing child poverty is both a moral imperative and an economic investment. Research included in the strategy shows strong links between poverty, poor mental health, and reduced long-term employment prospects. Health workers have also warned that poverty-related conditions are placing increasing strain on the NHS.

The programme is funded through targeted tax increases—an approach Starmer defended as necessary to avoid further austerity or high-risk borrowing. “Given the choice between raising revenue and ignoring child poverty, I am proud to choose action,” he said.

A New Era of Political Communication

The announcement coincides with Starmer launching his new Substack newsletter, which he says will offer transparent explanations of government decisions and insights into life inside Number 10. He described it as part of a broader effort to modernise how political leaders communicate with the public.