Central to this is the removal or reform of the two-child benefit cap; a policy that has pushed families into deeper hardship and punished children simply for being born into larger households. It has never reflected the real cost of living in our city, and its impact on children has been profound.
Last week in City Hall I questioned the Mayor of London directly on this issue. He told me how, although he appreciates the economic inheritance, he has been lobbying the government to remove or reform the cap. The figures speak for themselves: around 630,000 children in London could be lifted out of poverty if the cap were removed.
London is also marking a significant milestone this week, as the Mayor’s flagship universal Free School Meal programme delivers its 100 millionth meal. Every child benefits, and those living in poverty benefit most, without stigma and without complicated barriers. It is a reminder that when we invest in all children, we lift up the whole community.
Alongside this, I welcome the development of a new national poverty strategy. A properly designed strategy should go beyond short-term fixes and set out a coherent plan to reduce inequality, improve access to secure work, and ensure that essential public services are there for everyone who needs them. If done well, it could represent a real shift towards fairness.
In London, councils are on the front line of responding to poverty and supporting the most vulnerable. For years, the Mayor and Assembly Members have been calling for a genuinely fair funding settlement for local authorities. The pressures on temporary accommodation, SEND provision, and adult social care are immense. These are not optional extras; they are statutory responsibilities that shape lives and futures. Yet local councils rely on central government for around 80% of their funding, leaving them exposed when national decisions fail to reflect local realities.
Recently, however, there has been a welcome sign of progress. Ministers have begun looking more closely at how poverty levels affect council funding formulas. If this leads to a system that directs resources to the areas that need them most, then more communities in London will finally see the support they deserve.
