News: New FM must show leadership on poverty and fair taxes

Our director Peter Kelly, interviewed on BBC Good Morning Scotland, Wednesday 8 May.

Reacting to the Scottish Parliament’s decision to support John Swinney as First Minister, Poverty Alliance director Peter Kelly said: "The election of a new First Minister is a moment of choice about the direction of our country. We know that people want political leaders who will turn rhetoric into reality, and Scotland’s shared values of compassion and justice into concrete action.“

We welcome Mr Swinney’s statement that eradicating child poverty will be his principle policy interest. However, the latest statistics show that child poverty rates are stuck, with poverty levels increasing for other groups. The new First Minister and his government must place renewed focus on the actions needed to meet Scotland’s legal targets on child poverty. It is simply wrong that one in four of our children are being forced to live with the added burden of preventable poverty.


“The new First Minister can make the changes we need for a better Scotland. He can repair and strengthen the foundations of our public services and our social security, and promote a new, green, wellbeing economy that meets everyone’s needs. He can begin by pledging to use fair taxes to build better budgets, leading to a better future for all of us, together."

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