No apology
With Iain Duncan Smith’s announcement it appears that the UK Government thinks the best way to eradicate child poverty is to stop counting it.
Instead, action is needed where the UK Government and devolved governments make child poverty a key focus as a matter of urgency, provide sufficient resources to tackle it meaningfully and assess the impact of all new policies on low-income families. I believe that all levels of government in the UK should have the best interests of children at the heart of policy-making.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdIf we do not even know how many children are living in poverty, how can we know what impact policies are having – especially when the evidence is that the government’s actions are detrimental to our children’s futures?
When the UK Government says “no apology”, to me it means no apology for more children being plunged into poverty, no apology for them dying younger, no apology for their educational attainment being badly affected, and no apology for their poor mental health.
It appears that the government is targeting the poorest in society with a crass disregard for the best interests of children and young people.
Tam Baillie
Scotland’s Commissioner for Children and Young People
Haymarket Terrace