As the General Election got off the starting grid last week, poverty and its impact on children's services came to the fore as a key issue.

First, the Commons Work and Pensions Select Committee demanded an end to the two-child limit on Universal Credit (UC). Next, the Government ended the freeze on working benefits. And finally, the Local Government Association (LGA) sharpened the municipal lens by revealing an 84% increase in child protection plans over 10 years – with poverty and poor housing high up the list of causes.