BRADFORD MPs are blaming Government austerity cuts and freezing child-related benefits for plunging children in their constituencies further into poverty.

Research by the End Child Poverty coalition has revealed that Bradford West and Bradford East have seen rises in numbers of children growing up in families living on less than 60 per cent of median household income, by 10 per cent and eight per cent respectively in two years.

Bradford West has 47.26 per cent of children in poverty (16,989), up from 37 per cent two years ago.

In Bradford East there has been a rise from 38 per cent to 47 per cent (17,228 children).

The two constituencies stand and eighth and ninth in the top 25 constituencies for numbers of children living in poverty.

The coalition is calling on the Chancellor to end the freeze on children’s benefits so that families no longer see living standards “squeezed” as prices rise.

Naz Shah, MP for Bradford West said she was disgusted by the report.

“These figures make for very difficult reading and it is not right that families in Bradford West are being pushed into such hardship.

“As the evidence shows the decision to freeze child related benefit in 2015 has had stark consequences on the lives of children. The End Child Poverty campaign is right that the government should end the freeze especially in the face of such overwhelming evidence.

“What this Government is doing is nothing short of scandalous. Under austerity they have cut and cut and cut without any investment in our local or regional economies.”

Imran Hussain, MP for Bradford East, said: ““These figures are yet another damning indictment of this Government’s damaging policies and record. The rapid rise in child poverty that sees almost 1 in 2 children in poverty in Bradford East is a stain on our record as a modern, civilised and compassionate country and it is one that should shame the Government.

“Rising child poverty is the product of Government cuts in the name of austerity.”

Sam Royston, who chairs End Child Poverty and is director of policy and research at the Children’s Society, said: “No family in modern Britain should be struggling to put food on the table, heat their homes and clothe their children.

A Government spokesman said: “The best route out of poverty is through employment, and since 2010 an extra three million more people (nationally) are now in work and 600,000 fewer children are living in workless households.

“But we recognise that budgets are tight, and that’s why we’re helping families keep more of what they earn. We’ve doubled free childcare - worth £5,000 per child each year - while our £2.5 billion pupil premium programme is supporting two million disadvantaged schoolchildren across the country.”