This week I spoke in the Scottish Government debate on welfare reform and made the argument that we need to have a clear strategy aimed at tackling poverty and tackling the causes of poverty. I believe we must be more ambitious than simply arguing for improvements in welfare benefits; we must strive to give every person the best opportunities in life so they can work and earn in a high skilled – high wage economy.
The Tory/Liberal coalition is failing people and their welfare reforms are driving people into absolute poverty which is not acceptable in today’s United Kingdom. That is why we need a new approach – one which builds on the strengths of being part of the United Kingdom, alongside a radical Scottish policy agenda, formed by a devolved Scottish Government using the powers of devolution to work with local government and local communities addressing the poverty in our communities.
