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Sarah Teather and Brent Liberal DemocratsWorking Hard for Brent |
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Labour's Poverty Trap Robs Ten Years From Harlesden Children - Teather
February 12, 2010 4:25 PM
Local MP Sarah Teather wants all Brent's children to have the same chances in life, whatever their background and wherever they live
Local Liberal Democrat MP for Brent East Sarah Teather has condemned Labour's record on poverty after new analysis showed that a baby born in Harlesden is expected to die more than ten years before a child born in neighbouring Kensington, just a 13 minute drive away.
Life expectancy in Brent's Harlesden ward is one of the lowest in London, at 74 years. Meanwhile, a baby born in Kensington and Chelsea's Courtfield ward, just 13 minutes down the road, enjoys London's highest life expectancy at 87.3 years.
With many of Brent's communities stuck in chronic poverty, Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg has called for a massive drive to tackle the rising gap between rich and poor. The Liberal Democrats want to raise the poorest children's school funding to private school levels and to lift those earning less than £10,000 out of income tax.
Local Liberal Democrat MP for Brent East Sarah Teather said:
"After more than a decade in power, Labour's failure to get a grip on poverty and inequality has had devastating consequences. It is horrendous that a baby born in Harlesden has more than ten years robbed from their life compared with a child born next door in Kensington.
"Quite simply, we have to do whatever it takes to turn around the life chances of Brent's poorest children. With Labour out of ideas, it is the Liberal Democrats who want to bring funding for the poorest pupils up to private schools levels, and to lift the lowest earners out of income tax altogether.
"The Labour government should be ashamed of the way they have abandoned Brent's most deprived communities while chasing the votes of their wealthy neighbours. I will continue to campaign for a fairer country that gives every child the same chances in life, whatever their background and wherever they live."
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