TOMORROW it will be 15 years since Tony Blair promised that child poverty would be eliminated by 2020.

Now it is a legally binding target, but with just six years to go, Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) says child poverty will not be eradicated; it will rise to almost one in four children, which is higher than 1999.

This is completely unacceptable, which is why today we publish an article that will hopefully kick start a much-needed debate into what can be done to make sure Blair’s assurance becomes reality on the due date.

We agree with John Tomsett, headteacher of Huntington School, who tells us the key to lifting children out of poverty is to inspire them to succeed at school.

But Mr Tomsett goes on to say much of the poverty in York is hidden, which is why we applaud JRF’s call for a new, simpler strategy that would help the majority of families in poverty; those who simply can’t secure an income to cover their minimum costs.

Moussa Haddad of the Child Poverty Action Group is also right to say the most important measure would be to reverse cuts in support for families with children. Moussa says child benefit alone will have fallen in value by 15 per cent over the course of this Parliament, and that is hardly in keeping with Blair’s pledge. The sad thing is eliminating child poverty can be achieved, just look to Scandinavia.

Moussa says all Britain would need is the political will. But isn’t that precisely what Tony Blair promised, all those years ago?