The poverty of the UK poverty measure

It’s sad to see so many genuinely well-meaning people judge the fight against poverty by the publication of a massive spreadsheet, but that’s the trap the UK government has been caught in for years. The Child Poverty Act is about income redistribution, and success is judged by how many people are seen to be below an arbitrary threshold: 60 per cent of average income. The figures came out today, and show that the number in poverty has barely shifted – which will surprise those who thought government cuts would push poverty figures higher.

But is this really much cause to celebrate? There are still 2.3 million (17 per cent) of children in households deemed to be ‘in poverty’ – but, more importantly, this measure is pretty appalling. If a parent’s income rises by £1 a week above this poverty line, the children are deemed ‘lifted out of poverty’ – if asked, they’d be amazed to find themselves so described.