How is the SNP addressing child poverty?

Eradicating child poverty is the First Minister’s top priority, and the actions taken by the SNP in government are making a real difference. Despite fixed budgets and limited powers of devolution, we have transformed social security provision in Scotland, including progressive policies such as the Scottish Child Payment, Best Start Grant and Baby Box.

It is thanks to these policies that Scotland is the only part of the UK where levels of child poverty are falling, while they are predicted to rise in other parts of the UK by 2029. However, as many of the key powers needed to tackle poverty remain reserved to the UK Government, we are constantly fighting against devastating cuts from successive governments.

With Labour’s punitive welfare policy continuing to push thousands of children and vulnerable people into poverty across Scotland and the UK, it is more urgent than ever that Scotland becomes an independent country so that we have the full powers needed to tackle poverty and create a fairer and more equal Scotland.