News story

26th August 2002

Public Support For Fight Against Poverty Requires Clear Communication

Commenting on the Social Market Foundation’s call for a new definition of poverty, Liberal Democrat Shadow Work & Pensions Secretary Steve Webb MP said:

“It is quite clear that the present definition of poverty is unsatisfactory. It is meaningless to everyone apart from statistical gurus.

“If there is to be a war on poverty with real results, the Government has to get the public on side. That can’t be achieved with impenetrable statistics.

“The Government has done a lot of stealth redistribution of wealth, but has been afraid to communicate it. Harnessing the popular mood to the fight against poverty will require clear evidence, and these proposals may help to provide that.”

ENDS