Greens pledge to increase child payment to £55 by 2030

The Scottish Greens back increasing the Scottish child payment to £55 per week by the end of the decade, the party has announced.

Co-leader Gillian Mackay made the announcement on Tuesday, with the policy stance due to be in the Green manifesto ahead of May’s election.

The benefit should immediately rise to £40 per week, Ms Mackay added, up from the £28.20 rate it will rise to in April.

The immediate increase, according to the Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG), would cost a projected £200 million.

While the Scottish Greens are unlikely to form part of the next Scottish Government – with First Minister John Swinney ruling out any coalitions – the party has frequently cut deals with ministers to secure the annual budget, making an increase to the benefit a potential negotiation point ahead of next year’s tax and spending plans being passed.

As well as the Scottish child payment increase, the Greens also pledged supplementary support to parents under the age of 25, who are entitled to less in Universal Credit under current UK Government rules.

“Scotland is a wealthy country, but thousands of children are still growing up in totally avoidable poverty. That is a political choice, and it is one the Greens are determined to change,” Ms Mackay said.

“As the cost of food, fuel, heating and the other daily essentials keeps rising, far too many families are being left struggling to make ends meet.

“The Scottish Greens are proud to have been part of the government that more than doubled the payment.

“It has already made a real difference to families across Scotland, but with so many households still under huge pressure, we need to go further and faster.

“While others talk around child poverty, the Scottish Greens are backing direct support that can make an immediate difference in people’s lives.

“That is why we will increase the Scottish child payment to £40 a week and raise it to at least £55 by 2030.”

SNP MSP Fulton MacGregor said: “Under John Swinney’s leadership, policies introduced by the SNP – including the Scottish Child Payment – see Scotland have the lowest levels of child poverty on these islands.

“There is still much work to be done, which is why we have recently increased the SCP for children under one and set out transformative plans to extend childcare for every child from nine months until the end of primary school, all year round, meaning every family gets financial support.

“That’s what you get with a John Swinney government and we can go even further with the fresh start of independence where we can build a fairer and wealthier country.

“The only way to secure that future is by voting for the SNP on May 7.”

Graham Simpson, Reform UK MSP for Central Scotland, said: “This would cost nearly £200 million a year to implement.

“The Scottish Greens are always keen to make lavish spending pledges but they also need to say where the money is coming from.

“What would they cut to pay for this or is this another example of where they would hammer hard-working Scots through extra tax?”

Scottish Conservative shadow social security spokesperson Alexander Stewart MSP said: “At a time when Scotland’s benefits bill has spiralled out of control under the SNP, this proposal is simply unaffordable.

“While we will always protect those in genuine need, we believe the time has come to limit the payment of the Scottish Child Payment to a couple’s first two children.

“We are the only party at Holyrood being honest with voters about the need to rein in welfare spending, rather than increasing it like the Greens and every other party wish to do.

“That is why voters must use their peach ballot paper to vote for the Scottish Conservatives and stop an SNP majority, which would deliver even more spending on benefits.”

Scottish Labour social justice spokesperson Claire Baker said: “There is no doubt that more must be done to tackle the scandal of child poverty in Scotland.

“Scottish Labour is committed to protecting the Scottish Child Payment, but we need to go further and do more to tackle the root causes of poverty.

“While the Greens make unfunded promises to families, Scottish Labour is determined to work across government to address the underlying drivers of poverty.”