Next government urged to wake up to UK’s ‘shocking’ levels of child poverty

Charities call for law within first 100 days after general election to ensure annual rises in the financial help parents receive

The next government should pass a new law within 100 days of winning the general election that would commit ministers to eradicating child poverty for good, the five biggest UK children’s charities say this weekend.

The organisations demand legislation in the first king’s speech that would include plans for a “child lock” – equivalent to the current pensions “triple lock”.