The UK government could lift 700,000 children out of poverty overnight by matching Scotland’s financial commitment to social security, according to new research. The findings come amid fresh cuts to benefits that experts warn will push even more families into hardship.
Sharp Contrast Between Scotland and the Rest of the UK
A new briefing from the Changing Realities collaboration, led by Professor Ruth Patrick of the University of York and the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), highlights a widening gap in child poverty rates between Scotland and the rest of the UK.
The latest statistics show that 23% of children in Scotland were living in poverty in 2023/24, compared to 31% in England and Wales. This difference, the report suggests, is largely due to Scotland’s targeted financial support for low-income families.
The Role of Scotland’s Child Payment
Scotland has introduced a flagship program, the Scottish Child Payment, which provides £26.70 per child per week to low-income families.
- A family with three children in Scotland receives nearly £5,500 more per year than a similar family in England.
- If the UK government replicated this approach, it could reduce child poverty by 700,000, equivalent to a five-percentage-point drop.
A ‘Moral Stain’ on Government Policy
The UK government has pledged to release a Child Poverty Strategy this year, acknowledging the issue as a “moral stain.” However, recent policy changes indicate a move in the opposite direction. Cuts to social security, as outlined in the government’s impact assessment, are expected to increase poverty levels.
Professor Ruth Patrick was blunt in her assessment: “Enough is enough. We need to see action on child poverty and we need to see it now. The UK government seems to have lost their way on tackling this pernicious policy problem that blights lives, and robs children of their childhood and their futures.”
Parents Call for Urgent Action
Families living in poverty are speaking out about the daily struggles they face.
Tayyaba Siddiqui, a working parent from London who participated in the Changing Realities project, shared her frustrations: “My child is affected every day by our poverty. It doesn’t have to be this way. I would like the government to follow Scotland’s lead and invest in our social security system. That investment is so long overdue and could change lives overnight. Surely my son and all the others in poverty deserve nothing less.”
Will the UK Government Change Course?
The findings put pressure on Westminster to reconsider its approach. Researchers argue that matching Scotland’s child payment would be a cost-effective and immediate way to address rising poverty. However, without a shift in fiscal policy, the gap between Scotland and the rest of the UK may continue to grow, leaving millions of children in economic distress.
