A poor choice of venue for ‘Mr Poverty’ Frank Field

Published: 02 June 2011
by JOHN GULLIVER

THE sought-after views of “Mr Poverty” can be heard in Primrose Hill next Wednesday.

The opinions of Labour MP Frank Field (pictured), chairman of the government’s Poverty Review Committee, may reverberate with a bit of a resounding tinkle in the relatively salubrious surroundings of Primrose Hill.

But I am sure those who have attended the annual lecture series at St Mary’s Church in Elsworthy Road in the past will note he tops the bill of speakers – others include writer Alan Bennett (on libraries), Colin Thubron (travel), Mary Beard (classics) and Lionel Blue (godseeking). 

I gather the former welfare minister has made no secret of his belief that the last government’s plans were flawed since his proposals were blocked by Tony Blair and Gordon Brown in 1997.

But in a sense his report, published in December, thumbed its nose at his old bosses, suggesting ministers should each year reassess whether to withhold above-inflation increases in child tax credits and instead plough the cash into early years education.

He also suggests private companies should be given the chance to bid for Sure Start funding. David Cameron and Nick Clegg praised the report as “a vital moment in the history of our efforts to tackle poverty and disadvantage”.

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