Barbara has pledged to become a “Child Poverty Champion” for the charity Child Poverty Action Group and to work towards helping to end child poverty in Worsley and Eccles South and across the UK.

Barbara said:

“I have signed a personal pledge to commit to action against child poverty in Worsley and Eccles South and across the UK. Britain has one of the highest child poverty rates in Europe and this has a terrible impact on the life chances of many children.

“The Labour Government enshrined the commitment to eradicate child poverty by 2020 into law, supported by action to help parents back into work and financial support such as Child Tax Credits. Unfortunately, this goal will be harder to meet now that the Conservative Liberal Democrat Government has cut Child Tax Credits and frozen Child Benefit.

“I hope that by becoming a Child Poverty Champion I can help put the Child Poverty Act into practice by leading action at a local level."