The national poverty scandal

NEW Scottish Government statistics published last week show that the number of children in Scotland living in poverty has barely changed in the last year.

The report estimated that, on average, around 240,000 children (24 per cent) were living in relative poverty after housing costs over 2020 to 2023. This is a national scandal. It shames both of our Governments that so little progress has been made.

Reducing child poverty should be the most important social policy goal for any government. However, the SNP Government is not only failing in its moral duty to lift children out of poverty, it is also on track to breach the legal duties Parliament has set for it to reduce child poverty.

More working-age people are also falling into poverty because of SNP and Tory failure to create jobs and boost wages. This is contributing to rising food insecurity, with far too many struggling to meet basic needs.

Growing food poverty is the key reason why my colleague Rhoda Grant MSP has been seeking to introduce a Right to Food Bill in the Scottish Parliament. Her bill would incorporate the right to food into Scots law and ensure that a public body oversees the implementation of this right. This would be transformational in delivering food justice and I am delighted Rhoda has now secured the required support from MSPs to introduce the bill.

In the meantime, I want to welcome and support the Courier on its new appeal supporting local foodbanks and other community food projects. This is a very worthwhile initiative and I commend the Courier, the appeal’s sponsors and everyone else supporting it.

I will certainly be encouraging local groups and individuals to continue their generosity by getting behind the appeal and supporting the various organisations working so hard to help people who are struggling.