WARNING FROM CHARITIES HIGHLIGHTS THE NEED FOR YES VOTE

The SNP has today highlighted a report by leading charities showing that Westminster’s welfare cuts are putting children in danger.

Today’s Herald reports Barnardo's Scotland and NSPCC Scotland are also warning that the Scottish Government’s early intervention policies are being undermined by the level poverty that people working on the front line are faced with, including dealing with families with children without a toothbrush, pyjamas or sheets on their bed. 

The report states that the scale of the problems “has not been seen since Victorian times” and Martin Crew of Barnardo’s Scotland made clear where the problem stemmed from adding: “It often appears as if those putting in place welfare reforms have no concept of how poor people are to start with.”

Research from the Child Poverty Action Group has previously found that up to 100,000 more children will be pushed into poverty as a result of Westmister welfare reforms.

Commenting, SNP MSP Annabelle Ewing said:

“Up to 100,000 more children in Scotland are being pushed into poverty by a Westminster Tory Government that the people of Scotland did not vote for. Today's reports from Barnardos and NSPCC Scotland give an idea of the shocking impact poverty is having on our young people, with some of them now having to go without basics like toothbrushes and bed sheets. We need a Yes vote to put things right.

“The SNP Scottish Government is committed to building a more equal Scotland but we the strategies and efforts are being undermined by Westminster's cruel and backward cuts agenda.

“We can’t allow Westminster to keep holding back progress on tackling poverty and inequality. Scotland is waking up to the fact that only a Yes vote will enable us to tackle these social ills and take a huge step towards delivering a fairer Scotland.”