New Scottish Labour leader urges cross-party commission to tackle child poverty by 2030

After being elected Scottish Labour leader, Michael Marra sent a letter to First Minister John Swinney and leaders of other Holyrood parties urging the creation of a cross-party commission to produce a set of proposals that could be enacted before 2030. He highlighted that 21% of Scottish children are currently living in poverty, a figure close to double the target for 2030, and warned that without coordinated action the goal will be missed.

Marra pointed to the post-2014 Smith Commission as an example of how parties can quickly agree on substantial reforms. In reply, John Swinney affirmed the government's commitment to ending child poverty, citing the Scottish Child Payment, a national breakfast club offer, and a £40 million investment in transport and skills for parents, which together keep 100,000 children out of relative poverty this year. Swinney also noted that UK-wide policies such as the freeze on local housing allowance and the benefit cap are worsening poverty, and expressed willingness to discuss further ideas through the normal budget process.