WALES is one of the few parts of the UK where the proportion of people living in relative poverty is rising, according to figures just out today. After housing costs a third of children are living in poverty (33%), which is up from 31% in 2010/11.
The figure represents the highest rate outside London and suggests the country is getting poorer at a faster rate than the rest of the UK. The Welsh Government target is to eliminate child poverty by 2020.
When housing cost is included in the equation, 23% of people live in relative poverty, up from last year when it was 22%.
Only Wales and Northern Ireland have seen a rise, according to the figures from the Department for Work and Pensions.
But pensioner poverty rates are improving here – 14% are in poverty – down from 15% in 2010/11.
Households are classed as being in poverty where they have less than 60% of median average disposable income. Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood said the figures mean another 12,000 children in Wales are living in poverty, taking the total to around 200,000.
Ms Wood pointed out that a couple with children at the poverty level have an income of £1,600 less than in 2007/08, an 8% drop. This is why I vote Plaid Cymru to fight and overturn these appalling statistics, a fight that I’m proud to fight.
 Labour, Tory, Lib Dem or UKIP hasn’t got the policies or the will to face up to these facts.

Andrew Nutt
Bargoed