Purnell: "Let's fight on child poverty"

Secretary of State for Work and Pensions James Purnell outlined the Government's fightback strategy following the local elections in a speech to the Fabian Society, declaring "ideological confidence is the way out of this week's political setback."

In his Progressive Manifesto Lecture, "Creating an Open Society", Purnell Purnell took on the harbingers of electoral doom, who have likened the political situation to the Conservatives disastrous showing in 1995, saying that although "voters are spooked by the economy, they do not blame the government - they realise it has global routes."

But Labour cannot afford to coast on a promise of stability and a reliance on its record. In order to guide people through difficult economic times, the government needs to build an "Open Society" built on the idea of a "fair chance" he said.

"My argument today is that the goal is simple. To create an Open Society, the kind of society that is best placed to take the opportunities of globalisation."

"An Open Society, most of all, for everyone in Britain - giving them the chance to climb as far as their ambition takes them. But with that ladder rooted on the solid ground of a fair chance for all."

"That is why child poverty matters, and that is how we can make the best case for it."

The lecture was reported on-line by the Guardian - "End of child poverty is still aim", says Purnell.

The article states that Labour is making the fight against child poverty a central aim because the party feels "outrage" at the waste of lives, unlike the Tories who pay "lip service" to the government's commitments.

Seen as a rallying cry to the Labour party to unite behind Gordon Brown after "grim" local election results, the work and pensions secretary, James Purnell, claimed that the fight against poverty binds old and New Labour, and allows the party to expose the Tories.

Speaking to the Fabian Society, he said: "When Tony Blair and Gordon Brown committed us to the goal of eradicating child poverty they spoke for everyone in this party. They also hit its nerve centre. The child poverty target links old and New Labour. The outrage we feel at the waste of lives lived in poverty is what links the Labour party of 2008 with the Labour party of 1908."

He added that the Tories had accepted the need to tackle poverty - but he questioned their commitment. They had spoken of the need to look at the poorest people who earn 40% of median income - the official definition of poverty is people on 60% of median income.
"The Tories don't want to eradicate poverty," Purnell said. "They want to redefine it. All of a sudden, 2.5 million children are no longer poor, as if by magic."

The government has faced criticism in the labour movement because it is unlikely to meet its 2010 target for halving child poverty. Blair and Brown, as Purnell said, promised nearly 10 years ago to abolish child poverty by 2020. It is now accepted that it will be almost impossible for the government to hit even the interim 2010 milestone of halving child poverty.

Purnell said the government had taken 600,000 children out of poverty and he outlined further steps. A lone parents programme, which has ensured that participants earn 24% more than parents who do not sign up, will be intensified, with a £40 weekly bonus for single parents who return to work, advice on how to stay in work, and a £300 payment for people who run into trouble in the first six months after their return to work. "That is the mark of a government that has a real energy," he said.