2 weeks Ago
According to a report from the Resolution Foundation, the UK’s poorest households will be £500 a year worse off over the course of this Parliament thanks to Labour’s Spring Statement. The report also shows that poorer households will be the most affected by Labour’s tax and benefit changes – reducing the incomes of the second poorest fifth of households by 1.5 per cent, compared to just 0.
6 per cent for the richest fifth. This research was published on the same day that new figures were released showing that child poverty in Scotland has fallen – which contrasts with the rest of the UK. As I , the DWP's own analysis has shown Labour’s welfare cuts will push 250,000 people into poverty – including 50,000 children.
In fact, the Scottish Government’s modelling suggests that UK Government policies are "holding back" Scotland’s progress. That is because it estimates that the UK Government could reduce relative child poverty by an additional 100,000 children in 2025-26 if it heeded Scottish Government calls to end the two child limit; replicate the Scottish Child Payment in Universal Credit; remove the benefit cap, and introduce an essentials guarantee. This demonstrates how SNP policies are helping tackle child poverty, but that they are having to work harder than ever to make a difference.
It also provides context as to why we have not met the interim child poverty targets, which is hugely disappointing. However, positively, the proportion of children living in relative poverty has reduced, and year-on-year rates are now lower than they have been since 2014-15, while the proportion in absolute poverty has also fallen with the annual figure the lowest in 30 years. It’s not just families in poverty and the poorest households who’re worse off due to UK Government policies though – as two respected Glasgow University academics have highlighted that Westminster austerity has resulted in life expectancy stagnating since 2012 and decreasing in the most disadvantaged areas.
Professor Gerry McCartney and Dr David Walsh highlighted that life expectancy, which had on average increased uninterrupted across the UK since 1945, suddenly stopped improving after 2012 following the introduction of austerity under the Tory government. In an article published last week, the pair said that austerity is “not going away” under the Labour Government with the Chancellor making the “choice” to cut welfare rather than look at tax reform or close tax loopholes. They go on to warn that this choice will further stigmatise those on benefits.
It couldn’t be clearer then that Scotland must become an independent country so that we can have the full powers needed to tackle poverty and help to create a fairer and more equal Scotland..
