Labour conference: Shadow chancellor promises action on homeless families

Speaking at the annual Labour Party conference in Brighton, McDonnell said ongoing austerity measures are hitting families hard.

He said austerity is “not just a word” for the 100,000 children in homeless families who live in bed and breakfast or temporary accommodation.

“On behalf of this party I give those children my solemn promise that when we return to government we will build you all a decent and secure home in which to live,” he said.

Figures published last week show that, as of the end of June, 66,980 individuals or families were registered as having no home of their own - an increase of 12 per cent from the same date last year.

A total of 99,080 children were among those living in temporary accommodation.

McDonnell also said a Labour government would reverse Conservative cuts to tax credits – which is estimated to leave some families up to £1,300 a year worse off.

He said the cuts will affect families “who had done everything asked of them” but were dependent on tax credits to make up for low pay.

“We will halt the Conservative tax cuts to the wealthy paid for by cuts to families income,” he said.

“The Conservatives argued that they’d introduced a so called living wage to make up for the tax credit cut.

“But we all know that it was neither a living wage nor, according to the Institute for Fiscal Studies, did it make up for the amount families lost.  

“I tell you now, when we return to office, we will introduce a real living wage.”