Labour Have Failed On Poverty In Brent - Teather

10.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Fri 29th May 2009

Sarah Teather is speaking out for the poorest people in Brent

Local Liberal Democrat Brent East MP Sarah Teather has again called for action on poverty after an independent report revealed that twelve years of Labour Government has left people in Brent amongst the poorest in the country.

The "London's Poverty Profile" report, compiled by poverty think tanks City Parochial Foundation and New Policy Institute, shows that:

• Brent is within the four worst London boroughs for low pay, with approximately 1 in 5 of working residents paid less than £7.50 per hour;

• Brent is within the four worst London boroughs for infant mortality rates;

• The proportion of Brent households in temporary accommodation is within the four highest boroughs in London;

• 24% of Brent households are living in overcrowded conditions, the highest proportion of any outer London borough.

• Approximately 1 in 3 Brent children live in households receiving out-of-work benefits.

Local Liberal Democrat MP for Brent East Sarah Teather said:

"This report reveals the devastating living conditions endured by so many people in Brent. On low pay, infant mortality, and inadequate housing, Brent comes out worse than almost any other borough in London.

"We urgently need to give people a helping hand out of the depressing cycle that means if you are born in poverty, you are likely to die in poverty. Yet while Gordon Brown has bailed out wealthy banks and maintained tax loop holes for billionaires, the very poorest people in our country have been almost completely ignored.

"It's time to cut class sizes, target schools money on the most disadvantaged children, subsidise utility bills for vulnerable groups and reform the complicated tax credits system. We also need to invest in much more social housing to end the misery of overcrowding which people bring to my constituency office every single week.

"The failure to tackle poverty in Brent is a shocking legacy for Gordon Brown and this disastrous Labour government. I very much hope that the publication of this important survey will prompt them to do much more to end the shame of Brent's chronic poverty trap."

Related Links:

London Poverty Profile

Liberal Democrat Plan On Poverty