Starmer must commit to a Westminster reset on child poverty
by It’s clear that this rotten Tory government is finished – and that Keir Starmer is on his way to Downing Street.
But what is the point in Labour replacing the Tories if the red rosette offers nothing different than the blue?
The First Minister, John Swinney, has challenged Sir Keir Starmer to deliver a ‘Westminster reset’ on tackling the scourge of child poverty today.
Starmer has said his first priority is growing the economy – a priority for all parties in the wake of fourteen years of austerity and Tory economics. Odd then that he pledging to stick to their plans.
But surely the main focus for an incoming Labour government should be eradicating the legacy of Conservative rule – where one in every six people now live in poverty.
The First Minister has made eradicating child poverty his Government’s top priority but Westminster policies like the two child limit – which Sir Keir Starmer has refused to commit to scrapping – hamper the SNP Scottish Government’s progress.
After his election, First Minister John Swinney wrote to Sir Keir Starmer on 12th May requesting a meeting to discuss shared goals and values on tackling child poverty. The Labour leader has yet to reply to the invitation.
The First Minister said: “Eradicating child poverty is my government’s defining mission. The SNP has a proud record of action – with transformative policies like the Baby Box, free school meals, free bus travel for under-22 and the game-changing Scottish Child Payment which is contributing to keeping 100,000 children out of poverty in 2024/25.”
This is a sharp contrast to the apathy of the UK government, whose apathy has left 4.3 million children living in poverty.
John Swinney said: “The Tories are finished, so Labour has an opportunity to deliver a Westminster reset on tackling child poverty. They now need to commit to it. Once again, I call on Sir Keir Starmer to meet with me to discuss our shared goals and values on the issue of child poverty.”
Only a vote for the SNP in this election will guarantee a team of MPs who’ll fight tooth and nail against poverty. The status quo isn’t good enough. Continuity won’t cut it. And only the SNP will shine a light on these issues, which Westminster would rather ignore.
On July 4th, make your vote for the SNP.