Lord John Bird, the founder of the Big Issue, stated his goal upon entering Parliament was to combat poverty. He emphasized the need for a dedicated government department focused on eliminating poverty in the UK, proposing the creation of a “ministry of poverty prevention and cure.” Bird highlighted the absence of such a department since the establishment of the welfare state post-World War II.
Bird criticized the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) for primarily functioning as an emergency response unit rather than proactively addressing poverty’s root causes. He urged for strategies to prevent intergenerational poverty and reduce the number of individuals entering the criminal justice system due to economic hardships.
In collaboration with Gordon Roddick, Bird founded the Big Issue in 1991. He reiterated the importance of setting specific government targets to address child poverty, commending recent initiatives to uplift over 550,000 children from impoverished conditions. Bird called for legally binding poverty targets akin to environmental obligations outlined in the net zero law.
To push the government further, Bird plans to reintroduce his proposed amendments on children’s wellbeing and education in the House of Lords. He emphasized the significance of measurable Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to assess the government’s progress on poverty alleviation.
When asked about his personal commitment to the cause, Bird reaffirmed his dedication to dismantling poverty rather than maintaining the status quo. He stressed the importance of advocating for concessions to improve the lives of the most vulnerable in society.
In response to Bird’s critique, a government spokesperson highlighted ongoing efforts to address poverty through measures such as raising the national living wage and reducing energy costs. The government aims to tackle poverty at its roots by implementing policies like removing the two-child limit and introducing employment reforms to enhance living standards nationwide.
