A record 9.3 million people, including three million children, are facing hunger and hardship in the UK, a study said Wednesday, with the new Labour government under pressure to do more to tackle child poverty. The findings come before the government's first budget later this month, and with a cost of living crisis that has driven soaring use of food banks. According to the report by non-governmental organisation the Trussell Trust, almost a quarter of children under four are facing extreme poverty. "Shockingly, 46 percent more children are facing hunger and hardship than two decades ago. That equates to one in five children growing up trapped in this situation," the trust said in a statement. A UNICEF report last year found that the UK -- a G7 and NATO member, and the world's sixth biggest economy -- has one of the highest rates of child poverty among richer countries.

The Trussell Trust said that without "urgent action" from Prime Minister Keir Starmer's government the numbers facing hunger and hardship -- defined as living 25 percent below the poverty line -- would rise further. The charity defined the poverty line as £152 ($199) a week for someone living on their own and £204 for a single parent with one child. This includes paying electricity, water and property tax bills as well as food. Removing a two-child benefit cap -- meaning families cannot claim state subsidies for a third child born after April 2017 -- is one of the measures that could ease poverty levels, the trust said. Labour, however, has refused to abolish it in the teeth of fierce opposition from campaigners, unions and some of its own lawmakers. Finance minister Rachel Reeves has said she will not be able to reverse the cap in her October 30 budget due to what Labour claims is a £22 billion ($28.8 billion) black hole left by the last Conservative government.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan