We already knew from research by the Institute of Fiscal Studies that it would be almost impossible to meet this target without unprecedented redistribution in the tax system or a huge rise in employment and earnings for the low paid. But in his Autumn Statement, Chancellor George Osborne effectively wrote off the targets contained in the 2010 Child Poverty Act by taking back Child Tax Credit increases worth £975m to low income families in 2012 and almost £1 billion a year thereafter. Some 100,000 children will fall below the poverty line as a result.
The Child Poverty Act was already on life support; the Chancellor has simply flicked off the switch. But where does that leave us?
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