Please Support Talking-up Scotland at:

https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/support-talking-up-scotland

Click on the above.

Or direct bank transfer at Sort Code 08-91-04  Account - 12266421 Name - JOHN ROBERTSON

In a Debate Night session in Ayr, after a deeply ill-informed debate on GP access, totally unaware of Scotland’s far better ratio with patients, the far better funding of GPs and lower workload of GPs in Scotland, we witnessed an even more infuriating discussion of poverty where charity reps once more seem prepared to shoot themselves in the foot by failing to recognise and applaud the SNP Government’s achievements. I was very close to chucking something at the TV!

They, one in the audience and one on the panel, simply enabled the host to call the baby box and the Child Payment ‘sticking plasters!’ and get away with it.

Christ, I’d have been better prepared, at the very least, with:

First, based on the most recent data from 2023/24, child poverty rates (measured as relative poverty after housing costs) vary across the UK. Scotland has the lowest rate among the four nations, while England and Wales have the highest. These figures are drawn from official statistics and reports, reflecting a three-year average where applicable to account for volatility.

Here’s a summary table for clear comparison:

Nation Child Poverty Rate (%)
Scotland 23
England 31
Wales 31

https://endchildpoverty.org.uk/child-poverty-2025

Second, Joseph Rowntree Foundation: ‘Scotland will be only part of UK where child poverty falls.’

https://www.thenational.scot/news/24892503.jrf-scotland-will-part-uk-child-poverty-falls/

Third, ‘How a £25 payment is turning Scotland into a European pioneer in reducing child deprivation.’

https://www.ft.com/content/cf41b5d9-c714-40a2-b66d-251efde61504

Please Support Talking-up Scotland at:

https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/support-talking-up-scotland

Click on the above.

Or direct bank transfer at Sort Code 08-91-04  Account - 12266421 Name - JOHN ROBERTSON