Debbie Abrahams, Labour’s Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary, responding to the Joseph Rowntree Foundation’s report showing that Tory failures mean families with children are unable to have a decent living standard, said:
 
“These figures from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation again highlight the failure of the Tory government over the last six years.
 
“The report shows that working couples and lone parents on low incomes are unable to afford a decent living standard. This is driven by the Tories’ unfair and unnecessary cuts in social security support and their discredited economic policies, which have failed to deliver the well paid, secure jobs that people need.
 
“The report also highlights the Government’s failure to take the necessary and bold action on childcare costs, revealing it is a major barrier to families making ends meet. The Government must do much, much more to support low income families cover the cost of childcare and stop the cuts to Universal Credit support for people in low paid work by scrapping the 2016 Welfare Act.
 
“Theresa May needs to demonstrate that she’s not just spouting warm words when she says she understands the struggles of ‘ordinary working class families’. She needs to take action to help them now.”