THERE is no room for complacency in tackling child poverty, MP Jason McCartney said.

The Colne Valley MP said the government, council and voluntary sector all need to work together to deal with the problems.

While Huddersfield MP Barry Sheerman said we need to “stop twiddling our thumbs and get moving” to resolve the issue.

Conservative MP Jason McCartney said: “Sometimes when I’m in London and I talk about my constituency people think it’s a rural valley with no deprivation, but we should not pretend that is the case.

“There is deprivation, last summer I volunteered at the Thornton Lodge community centre where the volunteers work to tackle poverty. I worked on a garden project which meant people had access to fresh fruit and vegetables.

“There are other things which help, freezing council tax is one way, as is ensuring people on low incomes don’t pay income tax.

“With the economy as it is I’m not complacent, I know we all have to do more. I don’t want to see any child in poverty. The government, council and voluntary sector all need to step up to the plate and work together.”

Huddersfield MP Barry Sheerman said the town has to stop waiting for government action and sort itself out.

And he said the talented people living in Huddersfield were the key to shaping the future.

The MP said: “I am appalled by these figures and appalled by the reasons – our unemployment figures have shot up and are higher than in living memory. We’re the 67th worst area for unemployment in the county and something has gone seriously wrong.

“We need more jobs, we need to get young people working and prevent the next generation of people in their families who don’t work. A lot of people are only working part time and too many people are reliant on benefits.

“I want a big meeting at Huddersfield Town Hall with the university, the colleges, the council, employers and talented people and for us all to work together.

“Traditionally Huddersfield was a manufacturing town with relatively well-paid jobs, now manufacturing has declined and we’ve moved towards retail and distribution which doesn’t pay as well.

“We’ve got a wealth of talented people who have retired or semi-retired who have tremendous skills and knowledge that can be passed on to young people. We do have the resources we’re just not using them.”