Study Says the Poor Are Hit Hardest In London

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Thursday October 20th 2011

London is one of the hardest places in the country to be poor for children and young adults.

A new report has also found there is a disparity within the capital  - with babies born in Southwark twice as likely to die before their first birthday as those born in Richmond.

The New Policy Institute found that not only is poverty higher in London than the rest of England but the gap is greatest for children - 38% of whom are in low-income households compared to 30% in the rest of England.

Young adults are also hit by high unemployment levels - with the rate 4% higher in London than the rest of England and rising.

Bharat Mehta, Chief Executive of Trust for London, said:

"The Government has rightly acknowledged the critical importance of investment in the early years of children. However, our research shows that although good progress has been made in education, children in London are experiencing very difficult times. There is an urgent need to address this and the growing unemployment facing young Londoners."

Life expectancy is also incredibly variable across the capital warns the report.

Babies born in Southwark, Croydon, Haringey and Harrow are twice as likely to die before their first birthday as those born in Bromley, Kingston and Richmond.

Adults in Hackney are twice as likely to die before the age of 65 as those in Kensington and Chelsea.

Tom MacInnes, from New Policy Institute, said:

"Too often the visitor's perception of London is based on its prosperous centre and its leafy inner western residential districts, which is quite unrepresentative of the capital as a whole. Poverty and disadvantage are experienced by people in many parts of the city and is a growing issue in Outer London. High and rising housing costs are the main reason for London's high rates of poverty"

The report is also warning that housing costs are putting further pressure on public services in London Boroughs

The New Policy Institute says as Inner London becomes less affordable people are moving to areas where there are lower levels of public services per head.