A Middlesbrough ward has the highest levels of child poverty in the entire country, new figures show.
Newport ward sees 85% of its children living in poverty, figures from the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) for the year ending March 2024 show.
It is far and away the worst affected ward in the entire country, with six in seven kids living below the breadline, compared to less than three quarters in the second most affected ward in the UK, which is the Manningham area in Bradford which sees 72% of children living in poverty.
Middlesbrough’s Central ward ranks eighth highest in the country, and is the second worst affected ward in Teesside, with more than two out of every three kids living in poverty, while North Ormesby is the third and final ward in Teesside to see more than half of its children living below the breadline, at a level of 54%. At the other end of the spectrum, Nunthorpe ward is least affected by child poverty in Middlesbrough, at a rate of 7%. Nationally, 22% of kids live in poverty.
It was reported that in the year ending March 2024, 4.5m children were found to be living in relative poverty, an increase of 121,000 on the year before. The statistics reflect the last full year under the Conservative government, with the Labour government elected in July last year. The new government has been accused of not doing enough to fix the stark poverty problems faced in areas such as Teesside.
Local politicians were asked about the current state of affairs and were specifically asked if they supported removing the two-child benefit cap, a move which has been advocated by MPs including Andy McDonald, but also organisations such as the End Child Poverty Coalition, who say that ending the two-child limit to benefit payments would lift 300,000 children out of poverty nationally.
Additionally, following the Government’s proposals to make major changes to the benefits system in the UK, which garnered reaction from local MPs, the Government’s own impact assessment said that the reforms would push an additional 50,000 kids into relative poverty.
More widely, MPs and cllrs were also asked for their reactions and if they thought that the Government or the local council should be doing more to alleviate the high levels of child poverty.
Mr McDonald, MP for Middlesbrough and Thornaby East, described the scale of poverty in the town as “an absolute scandal” and said that it had fallen to Labour to “turn this around”. He said: “It is my number one priority to ensure this government drives it down. Government has to prioritise its anti-poverty strategy and get on with publishing and acting on the decisions of the Child Poverty Taskforce it established in August.”
He said the Government “should not be pressing ahead with the Welfare Green Paper and the cuts to welfare payments that are part of it – especially which the Government has said itself will drive thousands more into poverty.”
Mr McDonald has repeatedly voiced his concern on the proposed welfare cuts and that he did not think he would be able to support them. He has now said the Government is “rushing” the changes “for the wrong reasons” and he has not been reassured by ministers’ answers, so he is “committed to opposing” the cuts.
Newport’s three Labour cllrs, Anne Romaine, Jill Ewan and John Kabuye issued a joint statement when presented with the statistics. The cllrs said that they are “deeply concerned” and “appalled” to have the “horrendous title”.
The trio of cllrs said: “This is a crisis that not only undermines the potential of our youngest residents but also threatens the long-term wellbeing of our entire community. It is imperative that we recognise the multi-faceted challenges these children and their families face, from limited opportunities for enrichment to the burden of unaffordable childcare. Newport ward was built to house the workers that fuelled this majestic town and its industry; however, the lack of employment in the wider area has pushed its residents into this situation.”
The clrs want “decisive government action”, specifically requesting a “considerable increase in government funding to Middlesbrough Council and to Middlesbrough schools”.
The cllrs added: “Long-term investment in children’s enrichment projects is key. Such initiatives – ranging from after-school programs to community centres offering arts, sports, and learning support – are essential for nurturing a generation capable of breaking the cycle of poverty. They provide not only academic support but also the social and emotional tools required for resilience and growth.
“Employment initiatives aimed at parents, particularly mothers, must also be a priority. By creating accessible training programs and incentivising local businesses to hire from within the community, we can empower families with the financial stability necessary for sustainable progress. These initiatives should be complemented by accessible, affordable childcare services.
“It is high time that policy makers and community leaders collaborate to implement these measures. The prosperity of Newport ward – and the nation at large – relies on the strength and potential of its children. We must act now to create a more equitable, supportive environment for all families.”
Middlesbrough Mayor Chris Cooke said: “These dire statistics reflect a record of neglect left by the previous Tory government.
“In partnership with our new Labour government, we are working at both the local and national level to tackle child poverty, and overcome the challenges we were left with. We continue to work productively as a council with partners across the town to create a better future for the children of Middlesbrough.
“As part of this, we are set to announce measures including a brand new taskforce aimed at ensuring that children get a fair start in life, regardless of their background.”
A Government spokesperson said: “No child should be in poverty – that’s why our ministerial taskforce is developing an ambitious strategy to give every child the best start in life as part of our Plan for Change.
“Alongside delivering on our Get Britain Working reforms to support people into good jobs and make everyone better off, we have increased the Living Wage, uprated benefits and are supporting 700,000 of the poorest families by introducing a Fair Repayment Rate on Universal Credit deductions to help low-income households.”
