Renfrewshire Liberal Democrats call for more action on child poverty

Renfrewshire Liberal Democrats have today called for more action from both the UK and Scottish Governments to tackle the growing issue of child poverty locally. Data produced by the End Child Poverty Coalition shows that Child poverty has grown across Scotland since 2014, and in Renfrewshire that figure reached 23.3% for 2021/22, an increase of nearly 4% on the previous year.

In Renfrewshire, the figures in 2021/22 for each of the two Westminster constituencies covering the local area show that:

• 17.3% of children were in poverty in 2021/22 in Paisley and Renfrewshire North. This is equal to 3,248 children.
• In Paisley & Renfrewshire North, 65% of children in poverty (2,408) are in working households.
• 19.3% of children were in poverty in 2021/22 in Paisley and Renfrewshire South. This is equal to 2,856 children.
• In Paisley & Renfrewshire South, 62% of children in poverty (2,129) are in working households.

Renfrewshire Liberal Democrat spokesperson Jack Clark said:

"It is heart-breaking to see that Child poverty continues to grow in Renfrewshire. What makes the figures even more shocking is that over 2/3 of children living in poverty in our area are from working households. This is a failure of both of Scotland's governments to get a grip on the problem.

“We have a Conservative Government in Westminster fixated on culture wars and trying to hold itself together. While in Holyrood we have an SNP/ Green Government which is focused solely on independence and picking fights with Westminster.

"The idea that the Conservatives have that work is the only way out of poverty is misguided and broken, and people can only lower their living standards so far. Working families are having to use food banks more than ever, and parents are having to go without food just so their children can eat a basic meal. In Scotland in 2023, that is utterly heart-breaking.

“We need real solutions to tackling poverty, which is why Scottish Liberal Democrats would make publicly funded childcare more flexible for those outside of the labour market, get help to all those who have suffered adverse childhood experiences and kickstart a national insulation programme to ensure everyone has a warm and secure home to call their own. These are just some of the things we can do to tackle child poverty, but we need our governments to concentrate on making that happen.”