THE number of children living in poverty in Britain has reached a record high of almost 4.5 million, official figures revealed today.

Data from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) showed 4.45 million children in households with relative low income after housing costs in the year to March 2024, up from 4.33m the previous year — the highest since records began in 2002-03.

A household is considered in relative poverty if its income falls below 60 per cent of the median after housing costs.

The official figure comes a day after government estimates showed that its welfare cuts will push 50,000 more children below the poverty line by 2030.

And a Resolution Foundation analysis said a weak economic outlook and benefit cuts will disproportionately impact lower-income families, reducing the average income for the poorest half by £500 on average over the next five years.

The think tank also said that Chancellor Rachel Reeves’s welfare cuts amount to £8.1 billion — far exceeding the £4.8bn stated by the government.

Ms Reeves has insisted the government’s plans work “will result in more people having fulfilling careers paying decent wages and, of course, that’s the best way to lift families out of poverty.”

But TUC general secretary Paul Nowak said that stronger social security support is needed alongside the Employment Rights Bill, which aims to enhance job security and pay.

He said: “Cuts to disability benefits are already forecast to push many more families into poverty.

“Ministers should rethink these plans. They must also bring forward a robust strategy to reduce child poverty.”

National Education Union general secretary Daniel Kebede called the figures a “stain on society,” saying: “This Labour government is on track to oversee child poverty rates soar.

“Our members see the reality of these numbers. In schools across the country, staff are increasingly carrying the responsibilities of the state.

“We have support staff washing pupils’ clothes, teachers feeding pupils from their own pockets, school leaders undertaking social work.

“This is not sustainable and should not be necessary in such a wealthy country.”

He urged the government to scrap the two-child benefit cap and expand free school meals to “make headway in reducing poverty.”

Save the Children warned that, without immediate action, “this could be the first Labour government that oversees a significant rise in child poverty — a record no-one wants,” and described the latest data as “a source of national shame.”

Oxfam domestic poverty lead, Dr Silvia Galandini, said the damning figures come before the Chancellor’s “brutal cuts,” where she “chose to remove vital security and safety from those who need it the most instead of taxing the super-rich.”

She described it as “morally repugnant that children, disabled people and carers are the ones who are taking the hit.”

Work and Pensions Minister Sir Stephen Timms told the Commons the latest figures “show just what a huge challenge” the “very high level of child poverty that’s left by the previous government” is for Labour but vowed “we’re going to be addressing that.”

In Scotland, interim targets to reduce child poverty have been missed with the latest figures showing 22 per cent of children living in poverty in 2023-24 — above the legally set target of 18 per cent.

The Scottish Parliament’s 2017 Child Poverty Act aims to reduce this figure to less than 10 per cent by 2030, though ministers have admitted there is no enforcement mechanism.

First Minister John Swinney said the 2030 target can still be met with the “right policy focus across the board” and that eradicating child poverty is the central mission of his government.

Government data also showed that in 2024, there were an estimated 2.73m in fuel poverty in England, down slightly from 2.80m households in 2023.

But the “After Housing Costs” measure of fuel poverty, which is more sensitive to energy prices, has increased by almost 10 per cent as the energy bills crisis continues for households.

End Fuel Poverty Coalition co-ordinator Simon Francis said: “The latest figures show the inadequacy of current fuel poverty monitoring.

“[It] shows just how devastating the ongoing cost of living crisis is and what a mistake it was for the Chancellor to axe Winter Fuel Payments.”

He urged the government to invest fully in the £13.2bn Warm Homes Plan and reinstate vital support to vulnerable households, warning that continued cuts will deepen the cost-of-living crisis.