Lord John Bird, the founder of the Big Issue, expressed his purpose in Parliament as aiming to eliminate poverty. Proposing the establishment of a dedicated government department focused on eradicating poverty in the UK, the crossbench peer emphasized the need for a “ministry of poverty prevention and cure.” He pointed out the absence of a department solely dedicated to addressing poverty since the welfare state’s inception after World War II.
Lord Bird criticized the Department for Work and Pensions, labeling it as an “emergency department” rather than actively working towards eliminating poverty. He highlighted the importance of preventing the cycle of poverty and its impact on various societal issues, such as the disproportionate number of individuals from impoverished backgrounds ending up in the prison system.
Advocating for concrete government targets on child poverty, Lord Bird emphasized the necessity of legally binding goals similar to those set for achieving net zero emissions. He plans to push for his amendment on children’s wellbeing and schooling in the House of Lords to hold the government accountable and measure progress effectively.
Describing these targets as Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to assess the government’s efforts in combating poverty, Lord Bird stressed the importance of tangible measures over superficial discussions on mainstream media. He reiterated his unwavering commitment to dismantling poverty and ensuring a better quality of life for future generations.
In response, the government highlighted its efforts to address poverty by increasing the national living wage, reducing energy bills, and implementing policies to lift children out of poverty by 2030. Recognizing the ongoing challenges, the government pledged to continue working towards alleviating poverty at its root causes and improving living standards across the nation.