A campaign by the Big Issue for the UK Government to set legally binding poverty reduction targets has been backed by Scotland’s First Minister.
John Swinney called for the UK Government to follow Scotland’s steps and introduce statutory targets for reducing poverty.
He told the latest edition of the magazine that statutory targets require “focused action”, adding: “We’ve obviously got statutory targets on child poverty, so we’ve kind of gone into this territory, and it puts a discipline on the thinking of government to achieve its objectives.”
The Big Issue Group is calling for a Poverty Zero law, which would force every government to set legally binding targets to reduce poverty – as with net zero.
The group is urging the public to back the campaign by signing up to the Big Issue’s membership scheme.
Mr Swinney said: “We’ve got some tough decisions, which I think will be made tougher by the fact the Labour Government’s not going to desert austerity.
“I can’t fathom that. I just don’t know what they’re thinking. All the evidence tells us that the austerity experiments from 2010 were a total disaster.
“Independence for Scotland would make sure we can sort (child poverty),” he said.
A UK Government spokesman said: “Our immediate priority is to fix the foundations of our economy, so we can deliver growth and rebuild Britain to make every part of the country better off.
“Work is already under way to develop an ambitious strategy to reduce child poverty across the UK and we are introducing new laws to deliver greater job security and make work pay.
“We will continue to work closely with the Scottish Government on our shared goal of tackling poverty.”
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