Shock figures show extent of child poverty in Barnet
Stark new figures shown nearly half of all children in some parts of Barnet live in poverty, according to a new study by the End Child Poverty Campaign. Overall, 35% of children in Barnet live in poverty, once housing costs are taken into account. However, some part of the borough have significantly higher levels, such as Colindale, at 50%, Golders Green, at 48%, Edgware and Burnt Oak at 44%, Childs Hill at 43% and West Hendon at 42%.
Labour London Assembly Member for Barnet and Camden Andrew Dismore said:
‘These figures are shocking, and they should serve as a wakeup call. Once housing costs are taken into account, the level of child poverty more than doubles. Having a roof over your head is a basic human right, and that it is so expensive demonstrates how bad the housing crisis affects children in particular. The Mayor of London Sadiq Khan is making a good start, by taking on developers and making sure they deliver affordable homes, by encouraging the building of thousands of new social rent homes across London and he has taken on Barnet Council, who have no interest whatsoever in delivering affordable housing.’
Barnet Labour Group Leader Cllr Barry Rawlings added:
‘Even in leafy Totteridge, the level of child poverty is 28% including housing costs. There are so many reasons for this, including the harsh benefits reforms by the Conservatives and Lib Dem coalition, taken to their extreme under the Conservatives. But also the low wage economy and rise of zero-hour contract working are factors. I am pleased to see that a Labour Government will bring in a real living wage and commit the funding to build desperately needed new council homes.’
ENDS
Notes:
- Andrew Dismore is the Labour London Assembly Member for Barnet and Camden.
- Cllr Barry Rawlings is the Leader of the Barnet Labour Group
- Figures from the End Child Poverty Campaign can be found here: http://www.endchildpoverty.org.uk/poverty-in-your-area-2019/
- Barnet figures below:
| Ward | % of children in poverty | % of children in poverty inc. housing costs |
| West Hendon | 19.4% | 42% |
| Hale | 18.8% | 39% |
| Golders Green | 21.1% | 48% |
| Burnt Oak | 19.7% | 44% |
| West Finchley | 14.3% | 27% |
| High Barnet | 10.1% | 23% |
| Finchley Church End | 14.4% | 31% |
| Oakleigh | 13.7% | 30% |
| Underhill | 13.1% | 33% |
| East Finchley | 13.5% | 29% |
| East Barnet | 12.8% | 28% |
| Colindale | 27.1% | 50% |
| Childs Hill | 20.8% | 43% |
| Totteridge | 12.7% | 28% |
| Edgware | 21.7% | 44% |
| Garden Suburb | 13.8% | 31% |
| Mill Hill | 16.1% | 36% |
| Brunswick Park | 13.7% | 28% |
| Hendon | 17.1% | 34% |
| Woodhouse | 15.6% | 32% |
| Coppetts | 17.6% | 33% |
| BARNET | 16.7% | 35% |
