Recession and welfare reforms will lead to an increase in child poverty, the Children's Commissioner for England, Dr Maggie Atkinson has predicted.

Commenting on a new UNICEF study which warns that spending cuts will reverse recent progress in reducing child poverty, Ms Atkinson said: ‘It is important that the Government heeds the warnings. The four UK Children's commissioners in their joint report last year, my office in January this year, and this UNICEF study all warn of the same thing. The recession and current welfare reforms taken together look likely to put many more of our children into poverty.'