Owen Smith MP, Labour’s Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary commenting on the Labour Party’s success in securing a victory on the reporting of Child Poverty targets in the Welfare Reform and Work Bill, said:

“This represents a big victory for the campaigners that have come together to demand the Government meaningfully monitors child poverty. 

"Efforts led by the Labour Party, our Peers, the Bishop of Durham and the charity sector have together forced the Tories to climb down on their bid to cover their tracks on child poverty. They will now be legally bound to keep monitoring child poverty and Labour will be sure to hold them to account for their failures to address it. 

"I’m proud that Labour lifted over a million children out of poverty and proud that we continue fighting to do all we can to tackle it."