Lord John Bird, the founder of the Big Issue, expressed his commitment to combating poverty during his time in Parliament. He advocated for the establishment of a dedicated government department focused on eliminating poverty in the UK. Lord Bird emphasized the need for a “ministry of poverty prevention and cure” to address the longstanding issue of poverty eradication.
Highlighting the absence of a specific department dedicated to poverty alleviation since the creation of the welfare state post-World War II, Lord Bird criticized the current Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) for not prioritizing poverty eradication. He stressed the importance of preventing the cycle of poverty and its impact on various societal issues, such as incarceration rates.
Lord Bird, along with Gordon Roddick, co-founded the Big Issue in 1991. He pushed for concrete government targets to address child poverty, following the release of a child poverty strategy aimed at lifting over 550,000 children out of poverty. The strategy includes measures like expanding free school meals and removing the two-child benefit limit to help families in need.
Lord Bird urged the government to adopt legally binding targets on poverty, similar to the net zero law, to hold officials accountable for progress. He planned to reintroduce his proposed amendment on children’s wellbeing and education in the House of Lords in the New Year to push for stronger action against poverty.
Describing these targets as Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to assess the government’s efforts and improvements in poverty reduction, Lord Bird emphasized the importance of tangible actions over superficial discussions. He reiterated his personal commitment to dismantling poverty and advocating for concessions to improve the quality of life for those living in poverty.
In response to Lord Bird’s statements, a government spokesperson highlighted ongoing efforts to address poverty by increasing the national living wage, reducing energy bills, and implementing reforms to support low-income families. The government aims to lift 550,000 children out of poverty by 2030 through various initiatives and employment reforms to enhance living standards nationwide.