John Penrose

Conservative Party | Weston-super-Mare

Weston MP Appointed as Conservative Party's Child Poverty Champion

8 January 2008

Local MP John Penrose has been announced as the Conservative Party’s Child Poverty Parliamentary Champion by the Campaign to End Child Poverty.

The Weston-super-Mare MP is one of just three MPs who have been appointed by the charity as a Child Poverty Champion. Kerry McCarthy, Labour MP for Bristol East and Annette Brooke, Liberal Democrat MP for Mid Dorset and North Poole have also been appointed.

The Campaign to End Child Poverty consists over 90 children’s charities, child welfare organisations, social justice groups, faith groups, trade unions and others concerned about the unacceptably high levels of child poverty in the UK. Appointment of Child Poverty Parliamentary Champions is an initiative taken by the charity to invigorate debate within the three main parties on the eradication of child poverty.

Mr Penrose is no stranger to the topic. As a member of the Work and Pensions Select Committee he has undertaken extensive work on the issue and is currently working on a report into the Government's progress towards its goal of eradicating Child Poverty by 2020. As Oliver Letwin’s Private Parliamentary Secretary helping in the Conservative Party's policy review process, he is also centrally placed in the party to give the topic the extra attention it deserves.

Speaking after the announcement Mr Penrose said:

"I’m absolutely delighted to be appointed as the Conservative Party’s Child Poverty Champion.

"Child poverty is one of the most difficult and stubborn social problems we face. Despite the Government’s work in the area the number of children living in poverty has actually risen by 200,000 in the last year to 3.8 million.

"The Conservative Party, through its work with the Centre for Social Justice and the Campaign to End Child Poverty, is already focused on the issue and determined to address it.

"I’m thrilled to be given this opportunity to work closely with the Campaign to End Child Poverty and to give the issue the attention it deserves."