Child poverty should be a top election issue as cost of living crisis bites

Daily Record Political Editor Paul Hutcheon says child poverty targets will be missed unless parties come together.

Political parties tend to tailor their manifestos to the groups in society that have the loudest voice.

Older people vote and leaders are increasingly scared of doing anything to upset pensioners.

The inhabitants of middle Scotland are annoyed about levels of tax and parties have responded accordingly.

Business chiefs have better access than most to the political process and their concerns are always addressed in election campaigns.

It is therefore a legitimate question to ask who looks out for disadvantaged children during the chase for votes.

Whichever party wins on May 7th will inherit a legally binding target to slash child poverty rates.

The current level is 21% – around 210,000 kids – and the target is to reduce it to below 10% by 2030.

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This means the next Scottish Government will have to take another 111,000 children out of poverty if the target is to be met.

Anti-poverty groups believe the SNP administration is on course to fail and more needs to be done.

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar is first out of the traps with a bold commitment to meet the target.

He says a focus on “structural” poverty – boosting skills, childcare and employment – is the best approach, not a benefits top up.

However, he is also committed to the SNP Government’s successful Scottish Child Payment, which means he accepts social security has an important role to play.

SNP leader John Swinney has said child poverty is his top priority in Government and his party’s manifesto will be launched on Thursday.

The reality is the SNP and Labour – two parties of the centre left – have more in common on anti-poverty policies than they would ever admit.

Hitting the 2030 target is difficult, but would be manageable if there is a political will.

Regardless of who wins next month, progressive parties should come together to give these children a better future.