Number of UK children living in poverty highest in 20 yrs

The number of children living in poverty in the UK reached a new record, according to data published Thursday, as the government faces a storm of criticism over plans to cut welfare payments.

Almost 4.5 million children were living in low-income households in the year ending March 2024, according to the Department of Work and Pensions -- the highest number since records began in 2002-2003.

The figure rose from a previous record of 4.33 million in March 2023 to 4.45 million last year.

A household is considered to be in relative poverty if it lies below 60 percent of the median income, or below £337 ($435) per week.

The record figures come after Prime Minister Keir Starmer's government announced cuts to disability welfare payments among other spending cuts.

According to the government's own estimates, changes to the welfare system risk plunging 50,000 more children into poverty in the next five years.

Meanwhile, 21 percent of the population, or 14.25 million people, were in poverty as per the data, down slightly from the previous year.