ABOUT one in three children will be living in relative poverty by the middle of the decade without government action to tackle the issue, the children’s commissioner for England has warned.

Anne Longfield is calling on ministers to come forward with a “big, bold, long-term plan” to fix the problem.

In 2010-11, there were 3.6 million children living in relative poverty in Britain after housing costs, but by 2018-19 that figure had risen to 4.2 million – equating to 30 per cent of children.

“Child poverty was already a problem before the pandemic, but it has been laid bare by the Covid crisis and cannot be ignored any longer,” Ms Longfield said.

“The shocking image of a family being sent half a carrot in a food parcel shows a system of support that, as well as often falling short, is at times demeaning and stigmatising.”

Her call for action is supported by a cross-party group of politicians and charities.

Ms Longfield backed demands for the £20-a-week uplift in universal credit to be continued, but she said that it must be followed by long-term measures.