It is encouraging to hear a political party declaring that child poverty is its “defining mission,” as has been claimed by First Minister John Swinney. You might argue that ‘political party’ and ‘compassion’ do not naturally belong in the same sentence, but the SNP focus on child poverty is working to change that attitude. However, their sincerity is up for debate; the party seems more concerned about producing a compelling manifesto than they are with tangible results.
The Joseph Rowntree Foundation’s (JRF) latest report on poverty in Scotland raises precisely this problem. Despite years of political promises, 21 per cent of children in Scotland are still living in relative poverty. Meanwhile, the Scottish Government is on course to miss its legally binding target of reducing child poverty to below 10 per cent by 2030. This is awkward for the SNP, whose political brand has long been contingent on the public’s faith in a more socially progressive Scotland.
Nevertheless, it would be unfair to pretend that the SNP has done nothing. The Scottish Child Payment is tangibly beneficial. Currently at £28.20 per week for eligible children, it was estimated to have kept around 40,000 children out of relative poverty between 2025 and 2026. Other policies, including free school meals, childcare provision, and housing measures, have also made a difference. The Scottish Government estimates that its policies will keep 100,000 children out of relative poverty in 2026-2027.
The problem is that the SNP has promised a great deal and are unable to substantiate their promises with results, which remain considerably less significant. Characterising child poverty as their “defining mission” sets a high bar for tangible impacts. It implies something more substantial than a well-designed benefit accompanied by a ministerial statement and a photograph. It implies that the government is prepared to rearrange its priorities, spend accordingly, and accept that its policies’ success should be measured in falling poverty rates rather than the number of initiatives launched.
The JRF argues that this is where the Scottish Government is falling short, calling for a “much bolder and properly funded plan.” It also highlights the importance of proper funding for councils, better local services, and greater involvement of people with lived experience of poverty. Poverty is not solved by one payment or one policy. Families experiencing poverty can simultaneously struggle with housing costs, insecure employment, childcare, transport and inadequate incomes. The Scottish Government itself recognises this in its latest child poverty plan, which emphasises whole-family support and joined-up services.
Therein lies the gap between the SNP’s image and its record, but this is not to claim that image over results is unique to the SNP. Governments of every political domain are guilty of this. But crucially, the SNP has made child poverty central to its political identity, which means it is also entitled to be judged against its own promises. The criticism cannot simply be that the SNP talks about poverty while doing nothing. It is more accurately a question of scale. If child poverty remains at 21 per cent whilst the government is missing interim targets, are existing policies sufficiently ambitious to achieve the promised transformation?
The Scottish Government needs to set out exactly how it intends to close the gap between the current poverty rate and its 2030 targets, attach clear funding to that strategy and measure success by their outcomes. It’s time for the SNP to put their money where their mouth is.
“John Swinney – First Minister (53720492021) (cropped)” by Scottish Government is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
