Bishop of Leicester asks about addressing impacts of poverty

The Bishop of Leicester asked a question on the need to address the psychological and social impacts of poverty on 15th July 2026:

The Lord Bishop of Leicester: My Lords, I have spoken before in this House about the poverty-shame nexus: the deep relationship between financial hardship and the psychological and social experience of shame. Can the Minister tell us what the Government are doing to address not only material financial hardship through social security but the psychological and social aspects?

Lord Katz (Lab, Government Whip): The right reverend Prelate touches on a really important point: the shame and stigma of being in poverty. That is why we are taking steps such as removing the two-child limit and extending free school meals so that, when children go to school, they have a hunger to learn rather than a hunger in their bellies. It is important that we are lifting people out of poverty, but the best thing we can do is to make work pay and put people into good, decent jobs, so that young children in those families understand that the way to success is through education, employment and training.

Hansard