
David Eyre,Communications Officer, The Poverty Alliance
Life is an uncertain business. None of us get to choose where or when we are born, or what circumstances we are born into.
That's why – together – we decided to build a society where we could all rely on a degree of security in our lives. We realised that a better future relied on everyone being able to develop their potential, for their own good and for the good of society as a whole.
At the end of a time of war and chaos, the 1945 Labour government created the foundations of a more just and compassionate society, with education open to all, health care based on need, a measure of dignity in retirement, support for people who faced barriers to work, and an end to the days of the workhouse.
We recently submitted our thoughts to the Scottish Labour Party Policy Forum, on what they can do to build on that legacy through the Scottish Parliament.
We highlighted the urgent need to build more warm, sustainable affordable, homes for social rent. We pointed to the need for affordable, accessible public transport that allows people to get where they need to go in life. And we called for more investment in breaking down barriers to secure, employment that meets people needs – including promotion of real Living Wages, real Living Hours, greater access to childcare, a reduction in the unjust gender pay gap, and proper employment support for disabled people.
We also highlighted concern about the language used in the consultation to frame our social security system. We need all our political leaders to be clear and honest - the current rate of social security falls well short of what is needed for a decent and dignified life. Instead of providing a stable foundation to build a better life, low incomes from social security end up trapping people in poverty. Analysis by JRF shows that Universal Credit is around £30 a week short of what a single adult needs to cover life’s essentials.
Investment in social security is investment in people. The more that people are free to build a better live for themselves and their households, the stronger our society will be.
The question in the consultation asks: "The bill for social security is on an upward trajectory, how can we ensure that we provide the safety net for those who need it, whilst ensuring that it remains affordable to tax-payers?"
In a democracy we need to be able to debate ideas openly, but rhetoric based on false division harms us all. The truth is that we are all tax-payers and – as the Equality Trust points out – people on the lowest incomes are often taxed more than the wealthiest. We all contribute to the public foundations of our society, and we all benefit from them.
Our economy has grown nearly five times in size since 1945. The problem is that our political leaders aren't taking responsibility to use their powers over tax and investment to release that wealth for social investment.
They can start now. We can't afford not to build a more just and compassionate Scotland for all.
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