John Swinney urged to back £40 a week Scottish Child Payment as coalition of campaigners demand action on poverty

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Over 100 campaign groups have urged John Swinney to throw poorer kids a lifeline by funding a £40 a week Scottish Child Payment.The groups also want the SNP Government to back free travel for under 25s as well people on low incomes and disability benefits.Swinney’s finance cabinet secretary Shona Robison yesterday confirmed a round of brutal spending cuts in a bid to balance the books.He will today attempt to turn the corner by announcing a raft of Bills he hopes will reboot his GovernmentIt will be his first Programme for Government since succeeding Humza Yousaf and child poverty and the cost of living crisis are his priorities.They wrote: “Too many people across Scotland, including 24% of our children, are having their life chances restricted by preventable poverty.“The continuing impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and the ongoing cost of living crisis have contributed to a rising tide of poverty as people struggle to access adequate incomes that would enable them to live a dignified life.”They described poverty as a “breach” of human rights and added:“Following your appointment as First Minister in May 2024, you confirmed eradicating child poverty as the single most important policy objective for your Government.“We agree that this is the correct priority and share your belief in the need to use all of the powers at your Government’s disposal to loosen the grip of poverty on people’s lives.“This belief and commitment must be embedded into the forthcoming Programme for Government with tangible actions and clear timescales for implementation.

We know that people living in poverty cannot wait, and the time for action is now.”The letter made five asks, with the most notable being a call to increase the SCP for low income