After having a pop at Britain First last week, Jason Manford has now taken aim at the government, criticising their plans to change the definition of “child poverty”.
The Work and Pensions Secretary, Iain Duncan Smith, confirmed this week that the government plans to repel legally binding child poverty targets. The announcement came as the government prepares to make £12 billion worth of welfare cuts that their own child poverty advisers have said are highly likely to raise child poverty.
The Children’s Commissioner warned that the number of children in poverty will rise by around one million over the next five years.
Manchester comedian Manford took to his Facebook page to share his thoughts on the issue with his one million followers, posting a tongue-in-cheek status about the government’s plans.
Manford wrote:
Can't believe David Cameron has wiped out Child Poverty in the UK. What a legend. Simply by changing the meaning of what…
Posted by Jason Manford on Saturday, July 4, 2015
He added:
Statistically living in a poor family can reduce children’s expectations of their own lives and lead to a cycle where poverty is repeated from generation to generation. As adults they are more likely to suffer ill-health, be unemployed or homeless, and become involved in offending, drug and alcohol abuse, and abusive relationships.
Manford has previously taken shots at David Cameron and the Conservative Party for “failing” the NHS.
Iain Duncan Smith has defended the government plans. In a statement, he said:
I believe that the best route out of poverty is work- it provides purpose, responsibility, and role models for our children. I am announcing that we will bring forward legislation to remove the measures and targets in the Child Poverty Act, as well as the other duties and provision. How we measure things matters because it influences what governments focus on and what we target.
Manford isn’t the first comedian to take a swipe at the Tory government’s plans – Adam Hills also took aim at the Tory plans to redefine child poverty as part of a lengthy rant about how the government is failing vulnerable people in the UK during his show ‘The Last Leg’.
