A campaigner from York has teamed up with 14 others around the UK to urge the Prime Minister to take a new approach to end poverty.
The dad of two is part of the Dear Prime Minister project, coordinated as part of the national Let’s End Poverty campaign. A collection of 15 letters to Sir Keir Starmer is published today, each one written by someone who has experience of life in poverty.
The York letter-writer, Pedro, has sons aged 18 and 22. His eldest has graduated from university and the youngest wants to do likewise.
Pedro wrote: “I’m writing to you as a father of two lads, who are 18 and 22 years old, about their future under your leadership. As you will know, being a parent yourself, we have to explain that sometimes life throws curve balls at anyone.
“Things don’t go the way you plan on and being able to adapt is essential to live a better life.
“My eldest is part of the Covid-19 education crisis. He wasn’t able to sit his A levels, relying on predicted grades to secure a university place – which he got!
“After studying for three years, mostly online, he’s accumulated £60,000 of student debt. We’re not a rich family, and we supported him as best we could from our own hard earned wages.
“His brother is due to complete his college education in the next year and he’s excited to get his opportunity to go to university, and follow his dream of becoming a musician. We’ve shielded the cost reality to him.
“We can’t shatter a dream that’s not even had a chance to flourish.
“I totally appreciate it’s an unenviable job you hold. I certainly wouldn’t apply! But I’m asking you, father to father: give me actual things that will give my lads hope and inspiration to go and live the best life they can, and have the future their hard work deserves.”
‘Not listening’
The letters are being published today, on the first day of Challenge Poverty Week, and Pedro is attending an event in Parliament on Tuesday with MPs and fellow letter-writers.
Hannah Fremont-Brown, coordinator of the Let’s End Poverty campaign, said: “Listening to people who know what it’s like to live in poverty is not just the right thing to do, it’s the best way to create solutions that really work for the long term.
“But right now, our political leaders aren’t talking about the problems, never mind the solutions. They’re not listening to people who are struggling against poverty every day.
“How we tackle poverty must be on the agenda. Because poverty doesn’t happen by accident – poverty is a result of political choices. We need better, braver choices to be made by those with power to make structural change so that together, we can end poverty for good.”
The collection of letters has been written by a diverse range of people from around the UK, all the way from Orkney to Cornwall, highlighting their experience and the action they want the Government to take to end poverty.
Many talk about their own experiences, and suggest possible changes in policy or approach.
Several urge the government to work more sincerely and meaningfully with people in poverty, highlighting the success of local experimental approaches, such as Poverty Truth Commissions.
- Pedro is a pseudonym, as the letter-writer wished to protect his family’s privacy