We simply do not believe the former Prime Minister

Gordon Brown tells us that:

Britain is now enduring the worst levels of child poverty since modern records began, even worse than in the Thatcher-Major years, and far worse than in most European countries.

In fact, we insist this is a nonsense. From the House of Commons Library (although actually written by the Joseph Rowntree folk):

Those are both using Brown, G’s, preferred measures. Income now compared to median income now. They’re measures of inequality, not poverty. Neither are at outrageous levels given recent levels. We’d also suggest they’re not at worst levels since modern records began. And, really do note, that’s by Brown’s own preferred measure. Then there’s this:

That’s measuring poverty in each year by what was poverty by the standards of 1961. We’d suggest those “Thatcher and Major years” did a pretty damn good job in fact.

By any useful standard Britain has eliminated poverty. Unless, of course, you’re simply grasping - gasping - for an excuse to ramp up taxation and the state and thereby reach for a measure of inequality, not one of poverty.

We thus present Gordon Brown our coveted “Hat Award”.

By Cullen328 - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0,

It’s for talking through.

Tim Worstall