Imagine a sold-out Hampden – but five times over, with the stands filled with children in poverty.
Over a quarter of a million people born into hardship and less likely to reach their full potential in life.
That’s what we face in Scotland today. It’s a moral injustice – with severe economic costs – with a legal duty on the Scottish Government to tackle, through binding targets.
While recently we should have seen updated poverty statistics, data collection issues through the pandemic mean they aren’t reliable. But from a low of 19% a decade ago, child poverty rates quickly rose then stagnated.
Separate figures on children living in persistent poverty show potential signs of improvement but should be treated with caution, masked by the £20 a week Universal Credit increase during the pandemic – since cut by the UK Government – demonstrating the importance of a strong social safety net.
Poverty ultimately arises from political choices and can be tackled by political choices. The Scottish Government recently launched a new Tackling Child Poverty Delivery Plan with many welcome measures, including a further boost for the Scottish Child Payment.
That will set a positive course towards meeting targets with the government estimating 60,000 children will be lifted out of poverty by 2023-24.
But with 210,000 children needing lifted out of poverty between now and 2030, further increases in social security must remain on the table.
Secure and well-paid jobs are also one the most powerful ways to secure a sustainable route of poverty.
So it’s positive that the plan makes strong commitments around employment support, bolstered by wraparound support, including accessible childcare and transport, to go with that.
But previous, similar schemes haven’t always fulfilled their potential, and delivering support at a far greater pace and scale is vital.
Ultimately, the proof of the plan will be in delivery.
Any improvements will only be realised by maximising the number of people receiving support – and quickly.
Many of the most important measures in the plan will come too late to address the crisis facing families now.
Further support needs directed at the poorest households immediately, without further repeating the mistakes of the UK Government – seen already in a council tax rebate which spread resources far too thinly while delivering a tax cut to 1 in 3 of the highest earners.
The Scottish Government must be commended for introducing child poverty reduction targets.
Clearly the task is made harder by the UK Government's disregard for a historic drop in living standards.
But one government’s inaction can’t be another’s excuse. Child poverty targets were introduced during the austerity years and in full recognition of the external pressures we may face.
The Scottish Government has made bold and ambitious commitments of transformational change – not least to a minimum income guarantee, delivered through social security, fair work, and services.
But commitments alone won't lift families out of poverty.
We need to see a strong pivot to delivery, and we have no time to waste.
Philip Whyte is IPPR Scotland Director
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