The Tory leader said: "I’m happy to point out to m’learned friend there are 100,000 fewer children in absolute poverty." Official statistics show there were 3.7million children in absolute poverty after housing costs in 2018/19, the most recent year figures are available. Government figures are measured in two ways - "absolute low income" and "relative low income" (or absolute and relative poverty for short). So while inequality means there will always be some in relative poverty, higher relative poverty suggests there is more inequality in society. By all measures after housing costs, both the number and percentage of individuals and children in relative poverty have risen since 2010/11.

Source: Daily Mirror June 24, 2020 12:01 UTC