UK Government must show it is ‘serious’ about tackling child poverty – Swinney

Chancellor Rachel Reeves must use this month’s Budget to show the UK Government is “serious about ending child poverty”, John Swinney has said.

The First Minister said he believes Scotland is making “real progress” in tackling the issue, but “for too long, successive UK governments have taken decisions that have made child poverty worse, not better”.

With the Chancellor due to announce her tax and spending plans on November 26, the SNP leader said Ms Reeves must use her Budget as an opportunity to cut the number of children living in poverty.

The First Minister has made work to eradicate child poverty a priority for the Scottish Government, and he vowed again that Holyrood ministers will “continue to do everything we possibly can” to achieve that aim.

SNP ministers have introduced the Scottish child payment, which goes to help low income families, while plans are in place to effectively remove the two-child cap on some benefits in Scotland next year.

Mr Swinney challenged the UK Government to do more, urging the Chancellor “to match Scotland’s ambition in the Budget later this month”.

He insisted: “The UK Government must take similar action and demonstrate that it is serious about ending child poverty.

“For too long, successive UK governments have taken decisions that have made child poverty worse, not better – I am calling on them to finally do the right thing and play their part in ensuring not a single child has to endure the hardships of poverty.”

His comments came after talks in Glasgow involving council leaders and bodies such as Children First and the Joseph Rowntree Foundation – with Mr Swinney saying Scotland has a “shared, collective mission to end the scourge of child poverty once and for all”.

He said he had been “greatly encouraged” by the talks, which he said provided a “valuable insight into the issues facing many families”.

Mr Swinney said with councils, experts and others “coming together in this way”, he believes Scotland is “making real progress” in this area – pledging such collaboration will continue as the Government develops its next Tackling Child Poverty Delivery Plan.

The First Minister said: “We have made good progress – with child poverty in Scotland nine percentage points lower than in the rest of the UK.

“But we know there is more to do, and the time to act is now.”

His comments came after a warning that without further action Scotland could miss its child poverty targets by a “very wide margin”.

The Poverty and Inequality Commission made 14 recommendations to the Scottish Government this week, saying ministers need to “act urgently” if the country is to achieve its targets.

The UK Government has been contacted for comment.