Natalie Don MSP is backing Challenge Poverty Week (4th – 10th October) by calling for the Scottish Parliament to be fully empowered to eradicate poverty in Renfrewshire and across Scotland.
The MSP for Renfrewshire North and West is supporting Challenge Poverty Week, which is giving everyone an opportunity to raise their voices against poverty and call for a more just and equal Scotland.
During the week, key poverty issues are being highlighted such as low wages and insecure contracts which prevent too many people from earning enough money to live a decent life; and the need for a social security system supporting everyone to live a dignified life.
In backing Challenge Poverty Week, Natalie Don MSP is calling on all political parties represented in Holyrood to be united in demanding to have all welfare and social security powers transferred to the Scottish Parliament.
Natalie Don MSP wants the Scottish Parliament to be fully empowered to eradicate poverty.
Natalie Don MSP said: “I believe a Scotland free from the grip of poverty is possible. The Scottish Government is tackling child poverty head on by implementing bold policies such as the Scottish Child Payment benefitting low-income parents, an increase in the school clothing grant and funding the provision of 1,140 hours of free early learning and childcare.
“I am proud that we are also looking into radical and innovative policies such as a Minimum Income Guarantee and, in the future, a Universal Basic Income, which could genuinely make our society more equal and make a real difference to people’s lives.
“We know we still have a way to go but these are important steps in the SNP Government’s mission to eradicate poverty once and for all.
“With the Scottish Parliament having responsibilities for around only 15 per cent of welfare decisions affecting the everyday lives of people in Scotland, however, there is so much more that we could do to alleviate poverty in Renfrewshire and across the country, if we had the appropriate powers to do so.
“Although neither Tory or Labour politicians are backing the Scottish Government’s call for all welfare decision-making to be devolved, I urge cross-party colleagues across the Scottish Parliament to realise that now is the time to demand these vital powers, which are needed, to build a social security system to protect those who need it most.
“With many people facing the horrendous choice of heating or eating as energy bills skyrocket, food bills increase, and thousands having their Universal Credit benefit cut by the out-of-touch UK Tory Government, the prospect of an independent Scotland with complete control over a social security system with dignity, fairness and respect at its heart, gets more appealing by the day.”