Half of children from inner London live in poverty

More than half of inner London children live below the poverty
line, a new report for the capital’s mayor Ken Livingstone, has
found, writes Derren Hayes

‘London Divided – Income Inequality and Poverty in the
Capital’, reveals that 53 per cent of children in Kensington,
Chelsea, Westminster, the City, Hackney, Tower Hamlets, Newham,
Lambeth and Southwark suffer deprivation, compared with 33 per cent
in more affluent outer boroughs.

The report shows that child poverty in inner London is worse
than any other region of Britain. The rate is highest among ethnic
minority groups, with nearly three out of four Pakistani and
Bangladeshi children in the inner city living in poverty.

The figures – based on analysis by the Greater London
Authority of data collected by the department for work and pensions
– also found that 36 per cent of older people, and 30 per
cent of adults in the inner city live in poverty.

The figures were based on the proportion of children, older
people and working age adults in households where income after
housing costs was no more than 60 per cent of the national average
– the poverty line.

Livingstone said the report revealed for the first time the
extent of the problem. “London’s formidable wealth generating
capacity coexists with truly staggering levels of disadvantage,” he
said.

For a full copy of ‘London Divided’
click here

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