The number of children and pensioners in poverty also rose in the same period - and Oldham has been dubbed as one of the worst places for child poverty across the country. In the north west, the regional poverty sits at 23 per cent, which is broadly in line with the national rate (22 per cent) while the child poverty rate sits at a higher 34 per cent. The highest spot for child poverty across the region is Manchester, at 45 per cent, closely followed by Oldham (44 per cent). On the flip side, Ribble Valley, Trafford, Cheshire East, South Lakeland and Chorley have the lowest child poverty rates across the region. "Overall, poverty has barely moved since Conservative-led Governments took power in 2010, with every year’s poverty rate since then being between 20 per cent and 22 per cent."

Source: The Times January 27, 2024 07:06 UTC