David Cameron denies child poverty will rise

David Cameron today insisted child poverty would not rise as a result of Government tax and benefit changes.

An Institute for Fiscal Studies report forecast that 200,000 children would be dragged into poverty over the next three years as the reforms take hold.

A London bishop described the report as a "wake-up call".

But the Prime Minister said: "We actually made sure that neither the Budget nor the spending round, difficult decisions though they would involve, would result in any increase in child poverty."

This morning the Right Reverend Christopher Chessun, Bishop-elect of Southwark, said: "We have made some gains in tackling child poverty and we must not allow these to be removed. The harsh economic realities are a major challenge but we must not let our children become the victims."

The IFS forecast a rise of 200,000 children and 600,000 working-age adults in relative poverty by 2013/14.

But a Treasury spokesman said: "The IFS themselves admit their methodology means their results are subject to uncertainty and the small' differences they identify may not be meaningful."