Good morning. Welcome back to Survival Guide. It’s Isabella back in your inbox.

This time next week, we will be heading out to the polling stations to cast our votes in the general election. It has felt like a swift campaign but there is still time to make up your mind on where to place your vote.

In this week’s Big Issue, we’ve got exclusive interviews with Labour leader Keir Starmer, Conservative leader Rishi Sunak, SNP leader John Swinney and Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey. We gave them a grilling, including on their plans to tackle poverty in the UK.

Here’s the roundup. 

Keir Starmer said that poverty is a “moral stain on society”. He claimed the last Labour government lifted over half a million children out of poverty and he hopes the next government will build on that legacy. 

Labour has promised an “ambitious, wide ranging child poverty strategy”, with free breakfast for all primary school children, protections for renters from eviction, slashing fuel poverty and ensuring work is decent and secure for all.

But Starmer has come under criticism from charities this week because of his rhetoric around benefits and work – you can read about that here.

Rishi Sunak claimed that “work is the best way out of poverty” in a nod to plans around benefits and pushing people into employment, including those who are disabled and ill.

He also said that the Conservatives have brought down child poverty since 2010 (we previously fact checked that here) and outlined his plans for the expansion of free childcare.

The childcare plans have been welcomed because of the benefits they will bring to eligible working families, but experts have pointed out that the poorest children will miss out on support.

Sunak also referenced his cost of living support package – but that’s mostly come to an end now while millions of people still face poverty.

John Swinney said it was his “top priority” to eradicate child poverty in Scotland.

“I am under no illusions that this will be an easy task – it will not be – which is why I will always say it is a challenge, particularly under devolved powers only, but there can be no acceptable number of children living in poverty.”

Ed Davey said the Lib Dems' “first big, costed proposal” is ending the two-child limit on benefits – charities estimate this would lift 250,000 kids out of poverty.

“I think most commentators agree that’s the fastest way of tackling some of the poverty you’ve got. It’s not the only thing you can do, but I think it’s a really big, important start.”

He also said that the government should be more generous to unpaid carers, with an increase to carer’s allowance.

You can read more about what they had to say here.

If you have a story to share, we want to listen. Get in touch at isabella.mcrae@bigissue.com or share your story here.

In case you missed it

Thousands back our call for next government to take immediate action on poverty. The Big Issue’s open letter challenges the next government to adopt five vital poverty prevention policies and has been signed by more than 12,227 people. Read more.

UK inflation falls to lowest level in almost three years – but cost of living crisis is far from over. Prices rose at 2% in the year to May, the Office for National Statistics revealed, down from 2.3% the month before. Get the story.

Tory election betting scandal is grim – but vulnerable people are gambling's real victims. The scandal broaches serious questions about cronyism at the highest levels of government. But it’s a “symptom of another big problem”. Find out more.

Keir Starmer says benefits lack 'dignity' – but real indignity is Britain's broken welfare system. The Labour leader was outlining his plans for “wealth creation” but it prompted concern. Read about it.

Half of disabled people in the UK feel ignored this general election: 'We have a right to be heard'. One in four disabled people (26%) are not optimistic life will improve under a new government, according to new research from Sense. Here’s the story.

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CeCe's story: 'The cost of living crisis is biting me'

CeCe did not know how she was going to cope when she was pregnant and costs were spiralling.

“I was really feeling quite depressed, because I was four months [pregnant] at the time, and I was thinking, well, my time is ticking down, and it feels like the cost of living crisis is biting me, because every ten seconds I’m putting money on the gas, money on the electricity. My partner is a full-time worker, but he’s also a university student,” she says.

She praised London baby bank network Little Village, which helped provide her with essentials including clothes, toys and baby equipment when her daughter was born. 

Her baby, now one, has continued to receive clothes and other items from the baby bank, which helped support more than 3,000 newborns in 2023 alone.

Read CeCe’s story here.

Saving those coins: What's happening with benefits next month?

There are big changes happening in politics with the general election in July 2024 – but that won’t impact your benefit payments.

Rest assured, even though the parties are plotting reforms to the benefits system, there are unlikely to be any immediate changes and you’ll get your benefits as usual.

Although benefits are not stretching far enough, they are a lifeline for millions of households across the UK and it’s so important to claim all the financial support you are entitled to.

Here, we outline what support you might be eligible for in July.