The Fabian society will call on Labour to include a pledge in its general election manifesto to take one million children out of poverty during a third term in office.

Ministers will be urged on Tuesday to take firmer and faster action to close the gap between rich and poor.

The report by the society's commission on child poverty criticises Tony Blair's language and warns that phrases such as "hard-working families" and "rights and responsibilities" contribute to "negative stereotypes" of the poor.