At least one in four children in poverty in two-thirds of UK areas - see full list

At least a quarter of children are in poverty in two-thirds of areas across the UK, grim analysis shows today.

Overall, 42% of constituencies in the UK have a child poverty rate higher than the national average of 31%, according to new analysis by Loughborough University.

That includes ’s London constituency Holborn and St Pancras, which has a child poverty rate of 47%. Some 80% of the PM’s Cabinet represent constituencies with higher than average rates.

Constituencies with the highest child poverty rates in the UK include Birmingham Ladywood, Dewsbury and Batley and Bradford West. In the North East, West Midlands and in Wales, around nine out of ten constituencies have a child poverty rate higher than one in four.

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Experts found an “extremely high” correlation between child poverty and the two-child benefit limit.

The End Child Poverty Coalition, which is made up of over 135 organisations including child welfare groups, social justice groups, faith groups, trade unions and others, has today called for the policy to be scrapped in full.

It piles more pressure on Mr Starmer, who is facing demands to scrap the Tory-era policy to lift thousands of kids out of poverty.

Experts have said ditching the policy, which restricts parents from claiming or Child Tax Credits for any children beyond their first two, would be the most effective way to live around 350,000 kids out of poverty.

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson, who is co-chairing the government’s Child Poverty Taskforce, last month said scrapping the controversial two-child benefit limit is an option "on the table”.

The annual analysis by Loughborough University uses figures and looks at poverty rates after housing costs, which is seen as a more accurate assessment of family income.

Dan Paskins, of Save the Children and the End Child Poverty Coalition, said: “Each year this data presents a bleak picture of life for the UK’s children. A record number are now in poverty and this is under the noses of our MPs, particularly Cabinet members.

“The time for action is now, and the Comprehensive Spending Review, and forthcoming child poverty strategy should involve bold action."

Liv, 21, from Liverpool, who is an End Child Poverty Coalition Ambassador, said: “Growing up in poverty is relentless, and it’s never just about money - it is about isolation, shame, and missed opportunities.

“A proper government strategy on child poverty could give us hope. It shows that our experience is heard, and that there’s a commitment to building a fairer society where no child has to grow up feeling less than others just because of their circumstances.”

Full list of local authorities' child poverty rates (after housing costs):

Region	Local authority
2023/24
North East	Hartlepool	31.9%
North East	Middlesbrough	38.4%
North East	Redcar and Cleveland	31.8%
North East	Stockton-on-Tees	29.2%
North East	Darlington	30.1%
North West	Halton	32.8%
North West	Warrington	27.3%
North West	Blackburn with Darwen	43.3%
North West	Blackpool	40.4%
Yorkshire and The Humber	Kingston upon Hull, City of	35.7%
Yorkshire and The Humber	East Riding of Yorkshire	24.1%
Yorkshire and The Humber	North East Lincolnshire	33.6%
Yorkshire and The Humber	North Lincolnshire	30.6%
Yorkshire and The Humber	York	24.9%
East Midlands	Derby	34.8%
East Midlands	Leicester	38.3%
East Midlands	Rutland	19.3%
East Midlands	Nottingham	38.3%
West Midlands	Herefordshire, County of	30.9%
West Midlands	Telford and Wrekin	35.8%
West Midlands	Stoke-on-Trent	42.3%
South West	Bath and North East Somerset	21.1%
South West	Bristol, City of	35.4%
South West	North Somerset	23.1%
South West	South Gloucestershire	22.4%
South West	Plymouth	30.3%
South West	Torbay	30.0%
South West	Swindon	26.8%
East of England	Peterborough	32.2%
East of England	Luton	33.9%
East of England	Southend-on-Sea	26.2%
East of England	Thurrock	27.3%
South East	Medway	30.4%
South East	Bracknell Forest	19.5%
South East	West Berkshire	20.5%
South East	Reading	29.9%
South East	Slough	36.1%
South East	Windsor and Maidenhead	18.9%
South East	Wokingham	15.1%
South East	Milton Keynes	30.3%
South East	Brighton and Hove	28.2%
South East	Portsmouth	34.2%
South East	Southampton	35.1%
South East	Isle of Wight	31.5%
North East	County Durham	29.8%
North West	Cheshire East	24.0%
North West	Cheshire West and Chester	27.8%
West Midlands	Shropshire	29.0%
South West	Cornwall	29.5%
South West	Isles of Scilly
South West	Wiltshire	22.2%
East of England	Bedford	24.9%
East of England	Central Bedfordshire	18.6%
North East	Northumberland	25.6%
South West	Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole	26.6%
South West	Dorset	25.5%
South East	Buckinghamshire	23.2%
East Midlands	North Northamptonshire	28.4%
East Midlands	West Northamptonshire	27.4%
North West	Cumberland	27.9%
North West	Westmorland and Furness	25.3%
Yorkshire and The Humber	North Yorkshire	22.4%
South West	Somerset	27.7%
East of England	Cambridge	23.3%
East of England	East Cambridgeshire	17.9%
East of England	Fenland	28.2%
East of England	Huntingdonshire	19.0%
East of England	South Cambridgeshire	15.7%
East Midlands	Amber Valley	26.2%
East Midlands	Bolsover	31.0%
East Midlands	Chesterfield	30.1%
East Midlands	Derbyshire Dales	21.1%
East Midlands	Erewash	27.2%
East Midlands	High Peak	25.1%
East Midlands	North East Derbyshire	25.8%
East Midlands	South Derbyshire	23.7%
South West	East Devon	23.6%
South West	Exeter	27.4%
South West	Mid Devon	25.1%
South West	North Devon	28.4%
South West	South Hams	22.4%
South West	Teignbridge	25.5%
South West	Torridge	30.5%
South West	West Devon	26.4%
South East	Eastbourne	31.6%
South East	Hastings	34.1%
South East	Lewes	24.7%
South East	Rother	28.9%
South East	Wealden	23.2%
East of England	Basildon	27.1%
East of England	Braintree	22.5%
East of England	Brentwood	16.9%
East of England	Castle Point	22.9%
East of England	Chelmsford	18.5%
East of England	Colchester	22.6%
East of England	Epping Forest	22.5%
East of England	Harlow	29.9%
East of England	Maldon	20.7%
East of England	Rochford	18.3%
East of England	Tendring	27.1%
East of England	Uttlesford	15.3%
South West	Cheltenham	26.4%
South West	Cotswold	20.7%
South West	Forest of Dean	27.4%
South West	Gloucester	30.4%
South West	Stroud	21.3%
South West	Tewkesbury	22.4%
South East	Basingstoke and Deane	21.7%
South East	East Hampshire	20.7%
South East	Eastleigh	20.5%
South East	Fareham	19.1%
South East	Gosport	29.3%
South East	Hart	15.0%
South East	Havant	32.3%
South East	New Forest	24.9%
South East	Rushmoor	23.6%
South East	Test Valley	21.2%
South East	Winchester	17.9%
East of England	Broxbourne	22.4%
East of England	Dacorum	20.3%
East of England	Hertsmere	20.8%
East of England	North Hertfordshire	19.1%
East of England	Three Rivers	17.1%
East of England	Watford	25.6%
South East	Ashford	27.8%
South East	Canterbury	28.7%
South East	Dartford	27.2%
South East	Dover	31.1%
South East	Gravesham	31.3%
South East	Maidstone	26.9%
South East	Sevenoaks	24.3%
South East	Folkestone and Hythe	31.4%
South East	Swale	30.5%
South East	Thanet	34.5%
South East	Tonbridge and Malling	23.7%
South East	Tunbridge Wells	21.9%
North West	Burnley	42.2%
North West	Chorley	25.4%
North West	Fylde	27.3%
North West	Hyndburn	42.6%
North West	Lancaster	31.7%
North West	Pendle	45.0%
North West	Preston	37.6%
North West	Ribble Valley	20.4%
North West	Rossendale	32.6%
North West	South Ribble	26.7%
North West	West Lancashire	30.2%
North West	Wyre	27.9%
East Midlands	Blaby	22.7%
East Midlands	Charnwood	24.7%
East Midlands	Harborough	18.9%
East Midlands	Hinckley and Bosworth	25.2%
East Midlands	Melton	21.7%
East Midlands	North West Leicestershire	22.7%
East Midlands	Oadby and Wigston	25.3%
East Midlands	Boston	34.9%
East Midlands	East Lindsey	32.5%
East Midlands	Lincoln	33.8%
East Midlands	North Kesteven	22.5%
East Midlands	South Holland	30.0%
East Midlands	South Kesteven	24.6%
East Midlands	West Lindsey	26.3%
East of England	Breckland	25.2%
East of England	Broadland	19.0%
East of England	Great Yarmouth	30.3%
East of England	King's Lynn and West Norfolk	25.9%
East of England	North Norfolk	26.8%
East of England	Norwich	31.6%
East of England	South Norfolk	18.8%
East Midlands	Ashfield	31.9%
East Midlands	Bassetlaw	30.7%
East Midlands	Broxtowe	26.0%
East Midlands	Gedling	26.2%
East Midlands	Mansfield	31.7%
East Midlands	Newark and Sherwood	28.9%
East Midlands	Rushcliffe	15.4%
South East	Cherwell	22.9%
South East	Oxford	31.1%
South East	South Oxfordshire	17.9%
South East	Vale of White Horse	19.2%
South East	West Oxfordshire	19.8%
West Midlands	Cannock Chase	33.5%
West Midlands	East Staffordshire	35.7%
West Midlands	Lichfield	25.6%
West Midlands	Newcastle-under-Lyme	31.3%
West Midlands	South Staffordshire	28.9%
West Midlands	Stafford	27.2%
West Midlands	Staffordshire Moorlands	25.3%
West Midlands	Tamworth	33.8%
East of England	Babergh	22.8%
East of England	Ipswich	31.1%
East of England	Mid Suffolk	19.9%
South East	Elmbridge	14.7%
South East	Epsom and Ewell	16.6%
South East	Guildford	19.5%
South East	Mole Valley	18.0%
South East	Reigate and Banstead	19.4%
South East	Runnymede	22.2%
South East	Spelthorne	24.7%
South East	Surrey Heath	18.8%
South East	Tandridge	20.8%
South East	Waverley	14.7%
South East	Woking	24.2%
West Midlands	North Warwickshire	30.0%
West Midlands	Nuneaton and Bedworth	31.8%
West Midlands	Rugby	24.6%
West Midlands	Stratford-on-Avon	23.0%
West Midlands	Warwick	20.7%
South East	Adur	26.9%
South East	Arun	28.5%
South East	Chichester	24.8%
South East	Crawley	34.2%
South East	Horsham	19.7%
South East	Mid Sussex	16.4%
South East	Worthing	26.1%
West Midlands	Bromsgrove	22.2%
West Midlands	Malvern Hills	27.3%
West Midlands	Redditch	34.5%
West Midlands	Worcester	34.8%
West Midlands	Wychavon	27.5%
West Midlands	Wyre Forest	33.6%
East of England	St Albans	15.3%
East of England	Welwyn Hatfield	21.3%
East of England	East Hertfordshire	15.0%
East of England	Stevenage	26.8%
East of England	East Suffolk	24.9%
East of England	West Suffolk	20.8%
North West	Bolton	41.6%
North West	Bury	37.6%
North West	Manchester	43.6%
North West	Oldham	43.6%
North West	Rochdale	41.2%
North West	Salford	40.8%
North West	Stockport	29.7%
North West	Tameside	38.8%
North West	Trafford	26.8%
North West	Wigan	31.2%
North West	Knowsley	36.5%
North West	Liverpool	39.3%
North West	St. Helens	31.6%
North West	Sefton	31.4%
North West	Wirral	30.1%
Yorkshire and The Humber	Barnsley	31.4%
Yorkshire and The Humber	Doncaster	33.6%
Yorkshire and The Humber	Rotherham	31.0%
Yorkshire and The Humber	Sheffield	34.0%
North East	Newcastle upon Tyne	35.2%
North East	North Tyneside	26.0%
North East	South Tyneside	31.8%
North East	Sunderland	31.6%
West Midlands	Birmingham	43.2%
West Midlands	Coventry	39.3%
West Midlands	Dudley	38.3%
West Midlands	Sandwell	42.6%
West Midlands	Solihull	28.7%
West Midlands	Walsall	41.2%
West Midlands	Wolverhampton	41.4%
Yorkshire and The Humber	Bradford	38.5%
Yorkshire and The Humber	Calderdale	31.7%
Yorkshire and The Humber	Kirklees	33.8%
Yorkshire and The Humber	Leeds	34.6%
Yorkshire and The Humber	Wakefield	30.4%
North East	Gateshead	30.7%
London	City of London
London	Barking and Dagenham	42.0%
London	Barnet	29.2%
London	Bexley	27.8%
London	Brent	40.9%
London	Bromley	22.4%
London	Camden	41.8%
London	Croydon	34.9%
London	Ealing	35.3%
London	Enfield	35.5%
London	Greenwich	39.6%
London	Hackney	44.7%
London	Hammersmith and Fulham	32.8%
London	Haringey	38.8%
London	Harrow	33.4%
London	Havering	29.3%
London	Hillingdon	33.0%
London	Hounslow	34.7%
London	Islington	42.9%
London	Kensington and Chelsea	28.5%
London	Kingston upon Thames	21.9%
London	Lambeth	39.1%
London	Lewisham	36.4%
London	Merton	29.8%
London	Newham	44.5%
London	Redbridge	36.3%
London	Richmond upon Thames	14.8%
London	Southwark	40.5%
London	Sutton	24.8%
London	Tower Hamlets	46.5%
London	Waltham Forest	39.1%
London	Wandsworth	33.2%
London	Westminster	36.4%
Northern Ireland	Antrim and Newtownabbey	21.6%
Northern Ireland	Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon	24.0%
Northern Ireland	Belfast	27.8%
Northern Ireland	Causeway Coast and Glens	23.6%
Northern Ireland	Derry City and Strabane	25.3%
Northern Ireland	Fermanagh and Omagh	22.9%
Northern Ireland	Lisburn and Castlereagh	19.4%
Northern Ireland	Mid and East Antrim	22.2%
Northern Ireland	Mid Ulster	22.2%
Northern Ireland	Newry, Mourne and Down	25.8%
Northern Ireland	Ards and North Down	20.9%
Scotland	Clackmannanshire	28.5%
Scotland	Dumfries and Galloway	22.7%
Scotland	East Ayrshire	23.6%
Scotland	East Lothian	22.1%
Scotland	East Renfrewshire	12.0%
Scotland	Na h-Eileanan Siar	19.7%
Scotland	Falkirk	25.1%
Scotland	Highland	22.1%
Scotland	Inverclyde	22.4%
Scotland	Midlothian	24.6%
Scotland	Moray	23.0%
Scotland	North Ayrshire	24.3%
Scotland	Orkney Islands	18.6%
Scotland	Scottish Borders	21.5%