Why I won’t let the trolls stop me

It was not a normal Friday. I was invited to Wales to the launch of the Child Poverty Strategy, where the Prime Minister spoke to me and shared my experiences on his new Substack and on Instagram. We (myself, three other parents, and two researchers from the University of Glasgow) were invited, I think, because of all the work we’ve been doing over the last few years to document every day life for families on a low-income, and to push for change.

It was a lot. I didn’t realise I’d be placed all over social media. I thought it would be just a couple of pictures for something, but it is what it is now. I have thought about it a lot this morning and I had to put my thoughts down on paper.

Before I start, I just want to address a couple of things. I am under no illusion: I have a face for radio, not TV. I don’t pay for make up because it gives me more money to spend on my kids and I am never going to be a model. Before anyone else tries to get there first, be aware I know these things already! It’s not about having no shame but being too exhausted most of the time to worry about it.

Over the last couple of days, it has really saddened me to have seen so much hate and anger directed towards the child poverty strategy, and anger towards the Labour Party from some of the constituents that actually voted them in. There have also been some hurtful comments directed towards me and my appearance, for daring to speak out and stand up for those children that don’t have a voice. The children that live with little, and the children that often go to school hungry because there’s little money to feed them. I have to say that the comments about me personally have bothered me less. I directly know teachers that have taken breakfast bars and snacks to feed kids that sit miserable and starving in lessons, all paid for out of their own pockets. My children’s own school also has a food bank for children that are struggling. This is the reality of child poverty in 2025.

Let’s put it into context. Back in 1975, the average salary for two people was £4,680 and you could buy a house for £10,978. Today, the average salary for two people is around £70,2000 (£35,100) but house prices have sky-rocketed to an average of £272,819. That’s a huge percentage increase by anyone’s standards.

Increases to the cost of living and lack of wage growth means it is so much harder to own your own home than it’s ever been. The high cost of essentials is still having a huge effect on families that a few years ago may have been able to live comfortably and treat themselves to life’s little luxuries, luxuries many can now ill afford.

I completely understand that people have concerns and are frustrated that taxes are going up to pay for the extra money spent. I also work full-time so am affected by the freeze to the tax rates. I’m a lone parent with one wage coming in. I’m bringing up two kids by myself since their dad died so I worry about money more than I do about anything else. But, at the end of the day, I’m fortunate that my children have food on the table and a roof over their heads and they will always get some small gifts for Christmas and on their birthdays.

Some kids have it much worse off. The removal of the two child limit is completely the right thing to do and, with Changing Realities, something we have championed for a long time. I am not personally affected by the removal of this limit, but I want the best for all of our country’s children. Giving children a decent start in life by lifting the two-child limit and rolling out breakfast clubs so that kids have something to eat before school are decisions we should all stand up and applaud. And from September 2026, Free School Meals for the children of parents on Universal Credit, many of them working families on low wages will help drive thousands out of poverty and set them up for better futures. I make no apology in being thankful that these new measures are being put in place.

Don’t get me wrong. There is still lots needed to put the country on the straight and narrow, but Rome wasn’t built in a day. We can all sit and moan about what’s not right with the world, put all of our gripes and groans on social media but how many of us are doing something positive, and trying to make change happen?

Let’s be honest. There is no party out there that is going to give every one of us exactly what we want. And someone is always going to be angry about something. Do I agree with everything that’s been done over the years? Of course not. And at times, I have been angered like everyone else but sometimes we need to pick our battles, and chip away at the most important things first, tweak them until we’re at a place where we have improved things before moving on to something else.

I will never be sorry for standing my ground and standing up for what I believe is right. Even small steps generate big results and collectively we will always be bigger as a group. A massive thank you to every single participant and researcher in Changing Realities for giving up their time and bringing their expertise and lived experiences to bear in working together to change our children’s future for the better.