Too often policy aimed at alleviating child poverty is a “sticking plaster for the symptoms” and made “as a result of short-term political embarrassment”, she said.
Last year the government was forced into a high profile policy U-turn to ensure disadvantaged pupils receive free school meals out of term time following a high-profile campaign fronted by charities and Manchester United footballer Marcus Rashford.
The meagre content of free meals sent to families prompted another government U-turn this year.
“Child poverty was already a problem before the pandemic, but it has been laid bare by the Covid crisis and must not be ignored any longer,” said Longfield.
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