What’s on Matthew’s mind: Labour voters and child poverty policies

In this new series, our CEO Matthew McGregor shares honest reflections on 38 Degrees’ work and the issues of the day.

How do Labour voters feel about the Government’s approach to child poverty?

This is the question at the heart of our new polling, conducted by JL Partners and partnering with End Child Poverty.

The Government’s own impact assessment predicted that their policies will push 50,000 children into poverty.

And, as things stand, our research similarly makes for ugly reading for ministers.

More than half of Labour voters had a negative view or were pessimistic, though some of the Government’s child poverty policies got positive feedback – especially free breakfast clubs in primary schools.

One 33-year-old cleaner, who voted Labour in 2024 but isn’t planning to next time, felt the Government’s response was “heartless and out of touch” on the issue of child poverty.

Meanwhile a 31-year-old admin worker thought the Government had “already shown they aren’t serious about it by refusing to tax the rich more.”

Here’s what I told The Mirror about the findings: “These responses should ring huge alarm bells for the Government: loyal Labour voters are rapidly losing faith in the Government’s ability and commitment to tackling the blight of child poverty.”

These welfare cuts will hurt the people directly impacted, and they’re hurting the party politically too. It’s not too late for the Government to think again.

Read more in The Mirror here.