IT IS disappointing this election campaign has barely touched the issue of child poverty, especially as The Press has campaigned on ‘Stamping Out Poverty’ for the past two years.
What would national and local candidates do to ‘stamp out poverty’ in York?
A few questions for candidates as a starter for ten:
1. Citizens have a right to food. How will you commit to ensuring this and removing the need for food banks in the next five years?
2. After housing costs, some wards in York have astonishingly high percentages of child poverty (Westfield and Guildhall 30 per cent, Clifton and Hull Road 27 per cent and in York Outer, Fulford and Heslington over 20 per cent). What would you do to address the inequality?
3. Up until April 2014, there are only two local authorities with more regressive council tax support schemes than York. Would you pledge to make York’s scheme more progressive to avoid more people being ‘pushed into poverty’?
4. How would you address the media and political discourse that suggests people choose a ‘lifestyle on benefits’?
Richard Bridge, Holgate Road, York.
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