Scotland’s national anti-poverty network has welcomed the appointment of Andy Burnham MP as Labour leader and Prime Minister in waiting.
But the Poverty Alliance warns that he must act quickly to lift people out of poverty and reduce the growing chasm of wealth inequality and restore the belief that real change can be delivered.
Poverty Alliance Chief Executive Peter Kelly said: “People want a Prime Minister who will rebuild trust in the political process by investing in a better future for all of us. With a strong commitment to social justice issues, we welcome Andy Burnham’s appointment, but warm words will not be enough for the people who have been locked out of our economy and pushed into hardship by low pay, inadequate incomes, and public services that have been stretched past breaking point.
“The new Prime Minister must act quickly, or he risks becoming the latest name on the Number 10 merry-go-round. That means making sure every worker is paid at least the real Living Wage, strengthening Universal Credit so that it covers the cost of life’s daily essentials, and using the wealth of our society to close the growing chasm between the richest and poorest people across the country and across the world.
“He can also invest in the public services that are the foundation for shared prosperity: the NHS, social security, social care, childcare, and the local services that help people live with dignity.
“If the Government wants to restore trust, it must show that politics can make life better for people who are struggling right now, not just for those who already have the most.
“The Scottish Government has made tackling child poverty a priority. Burnham must ensure that reserved policies support rather than undermine those efforts.”
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