Yousaf failed to deliver on big vows
ONE of the great disappointments of Humza Yousaf’s inglorious leadership was his failure to live up to lofty rhetoric.
He won the SNP leadership contest as a progressive and promised to slash the number of children living in poverty.
Families across the country waited in vain as he struggled to bridge the gap between bold words and action.
All they received was a terrible budget which froze council tax for the rich and brutal cuts to the affordable housing budget.
He increased the Scottish Child Payment by a paltry £1.70 a week – less than the cost of a hot chocolate at Greggs.
The new First Minister is singing a similar song by insisting the elimination of child poverty is his top priority. Swinney is a more skilled politician than Yousaf and so his words are encouraging. He is also correct to say child poverty is not simply a matter of concern for his government.
Cross-party working is essential and Scottish Labour should take Swinney at face value.
It is also the case that a toxic Conservative government at Westminster has undermined the modest progress made at Holyrood.
Child poverty levels would be lower in Scotland were it not for Tory cuts to universal credit and punitive nonsense like the two-child cap.
In reaching out to his rivals, Swinney is eyeing a change of government at Westminster and he hopes extra money is on its way from Whitehall.
Keir Starmer is shrewd and one of his first moves as prime minister should be to organise a summit with Swinney.
The two leaders could sign an agreement promising to work together on child poverty and improving the lives of low income families.
They will never agree on independence but helping children in need should be beyond constitutional bickering.
Swinney is a more skilled politician than Yousaf