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Child poverty campaigners have fired a warning shot across Frank Field’s bows after the former Minister for Welfare – now the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition Government’s new “poverty tsar” – admitted examining the possibility of taxing child benefit and linking payments to the age of each child.

Mr Field, Labour MP for Birkenhead, but long loathed by left-wing activists for his right-wing views, surprised no one when he leapt at the opportunity offered by Tory Prime Minister David Cameron to become chairman of the Review of Poverty and Life Chances panel. Mr Field said it would be easier to tax – rather than means test – child benefit.

A spokesperson for End Child Poverty Action said: “This is not the way forward if we want to eradicate child poverty by 2020.” And a spokesperson for Barnardo’s said: “Any reform of child benefit would be a cause for concern if it is not founded on the fundamental principle of protecting the income of the poorest and most vulnerable in our society.