John Leech MP supports campaign for seasonal grants to help poor families in Manchester this Christmas

12.00.00am GMT Mon 18th Dec 2006

Today Liberal Democrat MP for Manchester Withington John Leech expressed his support for a Save the Children campaign to provide the 36,910 Manchester children living in 'poor' families with basic items such as heating, clothes and proper food this Christmas.

Mr Leech's move comes following results from a survey published by Save the Children last month, revealing that 85% of low-income parents in Britain find basic items such as bills and proper food the greatest expense in bringing up a child.

In light of the North West and Manchester in particular being identified as an area with high social need, Mr Leech has joined forces with Save the Children's demand for seasonal grants for low-income parents struggling to afford the basics for their children at Christmas.

Speaking today John Leech MP said:

"Despite being one of the wealthiest countries in the EU, we have some of the highest rates of child poverty. I support Save the Children's call for Seasonal Grants which could lift 440,000 children out of poverty, and would represent a lifeline to families struggling to support themselves this Christmas."

Figures from a report earlier this year issued by Think Tank, the Joseph Rowntree Trust highlighted that Manchester, with 41.8% of families receiving 'out of work' benefits is more than double the average of 21%.

Whilst Mr Leech's constituency average is better at 24.7% this still falls below the national average and fails to highlight the number of benefit-claiming families in Burnage (37%) and Old Moat (41.8%).

The Save the Children Campaign wants this seasonal funding become a permanent, bi-annual benefit, and intends to see all parties sign-up to targeting the eradication of child poverty by 2020.

For more information on Save the Children's campaign, go to www.savethechildren.org.uk/endchildpoverty.

Save the Children is part of the campaign to End Child Poverty. End Child Poverty will be holding a rally outside the Treasury today, Monday 20 November 2006 calling on Gordon Brown to live up to the Government's promise of ending child poverty by 2020.

Save the Children commissioned nfpSynergy to interview 1500 parents across the UK living below 60% median income (the Government's official poverty measure).

Tony Blair set a target to eradicate child poverty in the UK by 2020, but the Government is currently off track having already missed their first target in March 2006. 3.4 million children live below the poverty line in the UK today.

Save the Children calculates that there are up to 1 million children living in severe poverty in the UK - below 40% median income. That means a lone parent with 2 children living on £124 a week.

The UK has one of the worst child poverty rates in Europe, ranked 21st (joint with Greece and Poland) out of 27 countries behind France, Germany and Spain and many others.

The public to support its campaign to end child poverty by signing up at www.savethechildren.org.uk/endchildpoverty