West Midlands poverty rise shows government neglect

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 10th Dec 2003

West Midlands Liberal Democrat MEP Liz Lynne has reacted to a new report on poverty by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation which shows that the number of people in poverty in 2000/2001 increased in the West Midlands compared to five years previously.

The West Midlands is the only region in the UK where poverty has risen.

Liz said:

"These figures confirm what many of us have been saying for years. The decline in manufacturing has not been tackled by the government and many areas in the West Midlands have been left to rot."

The report also reveals that while West Midlands indicators for infant mortality, children in young offender institutions, employment for over 25s, obesity, burglaries, houses without central heating and homelessness have all increased, the only indicator that improved is the state of children's teeth.

"These indicators suggest that what is admittedly only a small dip in relative poverty now could be part of a downward spiral. With the income levels and quality of life of West Midlanders both on the decline, the government must take action now to prevent the situation from getting worse."

Related Link:

Report (Acrobat format).