caltonjock

The Unionist Party “Child Poverty Act” of 2010 committed the Westminster political elite to completely eliminate poverty amongst children in the UK, by 2020.

But the reality for millions of Scottish children is an upbringing in poverty due to low-paid work and continued high unemployment levels which, due to welfare cutbacks will not be supplemented by the State.

“Save the Children”, took up the cause and produced a report, critical of politicians and their false promises “A Fair Start for Every Child”, warned that child poverty levels in 2014 were the “highest ever recorded in the UK” due to the poor getting poorer, the imposition of harsh welfare cuts and the increasing cost of every day essentials needed in support of children (decent clothing, footwear, balanced diets, medicines, heating etc.) http://www.savethechildren.org.uk/sites/default/files/images/A_Fair_Start_for_Every_Child.pdf

The usual Unionist government blandishments were issued stating that every effort, forming part of a long-term strategy, would be made to identify and resolve the root causes of the problems. But unless poor wages and poor welfare formed part of the response the future for children in poor families remained bleak.

Now the split in the consensus: The Labour Party went on the hunt, making mischief, blaming the Tory government for all the ills that UK society suffered, without mentioning that the legislation bringing forward measures dealing with the problems of the increasing numbers of the “underclass and their feral children” was placed on the statute in 2004 by Tony Blair, Gordon Brown and New Labour.

The Tory and Lib/Dems simply picked up the cudgel created for them by the Labour government and wielded it with gusto.

Beyond the general election, the Tory Party committed to the implementation of an austerity programme ensuring the elimination of a £1.6 trillion financial deficit, created by the Labour government and added to by the Tory Party.

The Labour Party sang from the same song sheet as the Tories committed to a similar programme of massive cuts “but to be applied with a human face”.

So child poverty would be increasing unless the “austerity measures” were binned in favour of an expansion of the economy, favoured by many informed financial experts.

The SNP argument

“The exchequer gathered billions to its coffers over the last 5 years and this should be released to families improving their lifestyles and the welfare of their children. The benefits are obvious. A fair-minded society means healthy children and a contented electorate who will work hard to increase tax revenues affording a faster reduction of the deficit.”