There is nothing inevitable about poverty
There is nothing inevitable about poverty, say the Scottish Greens, who warn that despite important progress, the drive to end it is being severely undermined by decisions made in Downing Street.
Speaking after a Ministerial update on the Tackling Child Poverty Delivery Plan, the party’s equalities spokesperson, Maggie Chapman MSP, has called child poverty the “biggest and most urgent social challenge of this age and every age.”
Ms Chapman said:
“There is nothing inevitable about poverty. Child poverty is the biggest and most urgent social challenge of this age and every age. The last three years of pandemic, Brexit and the Tory inflicted cost of living crisis have put an even greater strain on people and families across the country.
“Behind every number there is a real person or a real family suffering. People living in poverty are far more likely to be in unstable jobs, far more likely to experience poor physical and mental health, and far more likely to live in cramped and overcrowded accommodation.
“We have made big steps with the limited powers we have, such as the expansion and increase of the Child Payment, mitigation of the cruel UK Government’s Benefits Cap, and the decision to ensure benefits in Scotland rise with inflation. These are important changes that go beyond anything being done elsewhere in the UK, and we must continue to build on them and to do more.
“Yet, we are also having one hand tied behind our back by a Tory government that is throwing vulnerable people to the wolves and letting them suffer as part of a failed economic policy that is wreaking havoc.
“This generation of politicians has the resources, technology and skills to end poverty for good. At all levels of government we must have political courage to change the things we need to change. We cannot just continue to tweak a system that is failing so many.”