‘Shame’ as bid to fight child poverty is rejected

COUNCIL bosses have rejected a motion to write to the Scottish Government asking them to back a campaign to help reduce child poverty.

Labour Councillor Aileen McKenzie asked members of Glasgow City Council to support an initiative to instruct the Chief Executive to write to MSPs urging them to back a project that would top-up child benefit by £5 per week.

Ms McKenzie said members should be “ashamed” as more foodbanks open across the city.

The Give Me Five campaign, run by third sector groups, is calling on MSPs to ensure the 2019/20 budget and Scottish Government spending plans include proposals which would benefit 37,000 children in the city.

But the SNP administration say money should be targeted at those who need it most.

The Scottish Government is working to introduce a benefit that would increase incomes of those living below the poverty line.

Addressing the full council Ms McKenzie said: “Only days after the last full council meeting an eight-year-old boy was caught stealing tomato ketchup to take home with him and mix with boiling water to make soup.

“Around 45 per cent of children are living below the poverty line in the city. The government should be taking steps to reduce child poverty and top up child benefit.

“The Give Me Five campaign is an urgent step which needs to be taken to eradicate child poverty. We need to provide families with secure financial support.

“Child poverty is an epidemic. Cutting a ribbon at a new foodbank is seen as a photo opportunity and not something to be ashamed of.

“When the eight-year-old boy was caught stealing the ketchup by the teacher, the school referred him and his family to a community group.

“By supporting the Give Me Five campaign, families in this situation will be able to keep their dignity and put food in their tummies.”

But the SNP said the council should be supporting the Scottish Government, who are developing a new policy to help the most vulnerable families out of poverty.

Councillor Norman MacLeod said: “This is an enormous problem.

“We live in a wealthy country but one third of young people are living below the poverty line.

“We need to work together to address this. I proposed providing free school meals, three times, but Labour shot it down – shame on you.”

The majority of members voted for the SNP amendment to instruct the Chief Executive to write to the Scottish Government to support their on-going work to create a strategy to help those facing poverty. A MAJOR retrospective of photography by Linda McCartney will be shown in the UK for the first time at Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum.

The Linda McCartney Retrospective, curated by Paul, Mary and Stella McCartney, features famous names and moments in music from the 1960s along with more intimate and emotional later work.

One of Linda’s diaries from the 1960s will be displayed in public for the first time and bringing new insight into the contemporary music scene of the era.

Cameras used by Linda and held in her archive will be displayed in public for the first time, along with Polaroids and Contact Sheets.

Sir Paul said: “Linda would have been so proud of this exhibition being held in Scotland, a country she loved so much and spent so many happy days in.”

The retrospective will be shown from July 5, 2019 to January 12, 2020.