The Workers Party London has condemned new figures from housing charity ‘Shelter’ showing that, on average, one child in every primary school classroom in London will be homeless this Christmas. Across the country, 56,000 primary school children face homelessness, with London the worst-affected region.
In Newham, one in nine children is now homeless, a 10% rise on last year. Citywide, at least one in 24 primary school pupils live in temporary accommodation, while the overall child poverty crisis continues, with 3.2 million children nationwide—22% of the UK total—living in poverty.
A local mother has spoken of the emotional toll on her family, saying: “My children are missing out on their childhood.” The Workers Party London believes no child should suffer such hardship and is calling for immediate measures to tackle both child homelessness and child poverty.
A Workers Party London Spokesperson said:
“Allowing children to spend Christmas without a permanent home is a national disgrace. We must invest in genuinely affordable housing, strengthen local support services, and introduce robust policies to reduce the growing number of children living in poverty.”
The Workers Party London calls for:
- Major Investment in Social Housing – Increase the supply of safe, genuinely affordable homes.
- Action on Child Poverty – Reduce the 3.2 million children living in poverty through targeted social policies.
- Boost Local Authority Funding – Empower councils to move families out of emergency accommodation quickly.
- Accountability and Transparency – Track and report on homelessness and poverty figures regularly, backed by clear solutions.
By standing firmly by its commitments, the Workers Party London pledges to fight for every child’s right to a safe home and a dignified start in life.
