Poverty is a political choice that Scotland's next government must change
In a just and compassionate Scotland, we need a government that’s prepared to tackle the hunger, hardship and hopelessness that afflicts far too many people
“Difficult choices.” It’s become a strapline for politicians of all colours. Presented like a get-out-of-jail-free card for decision-makers when faced with colliding priorities, to somehow ease the blow for those forced to bear the cost of their conundrum.
Government is undoubtedly complex; their decisions affect every aspect of our lives and our economy. But in Scotland today, the people who face the most difficult choices are the hundreds of thousands the Citizens Advice network supports.
If you were to speak to any adviser in one of our CABs all across Scotland, the same story of hunger, hardship and hopelessness would dominate the conversation, as staff and volunteers work tirelessly to improve people’s lives.
READ MORE: Next Scottish Government must make different choices to tackle scandal of in-work poverty
Chronic harm, broken systems
Yes, this about people in crisis facing unimaginable choices – families unable to afford the weekly food shop, pensioners terrified to turn the heating on, eviction notices and homelessness.
But it’s also about people facing chronic harm. Broken systems that are failing, meaning people are corralled down long-term paths of debt and destitution. No real choices for people to make here.
More than two thirds of everyone who visits a CAB live in the most deprived communities in Scotland. People like Andy. He has been supported by his local CAB since 2013, needing help with getting enough to eat, keeping his home warm and applying for vital social security.
Over the last seven years, he’s faced repeated rents arrears, threatened homelessness, and issues with the repair of his social home.
For Andy, the CAB has been his safety net: advice services form an essential part of Scotland's anti-poverty infrastructure. But the failure of the system means that these points of crisis keep happening – and will keep happening unless there’s a deliberate choice to change this. The next Scottish Government can choose to change this. Deliver not just the ambition, but the action and agency to really make a difference.
Poverty is not inevitable
The 2030 child poverty targets set by the Scottish Parliament are on our horizon – a declaration of our collective ambition. While many of the announcements from the current Scottish Government this week are welcome, evidence from academics, economists and the third sector alike has outlined the action needed if we’re to meet them. There is no credible route to these targets without significant investment in social security for the families who need it most.
Will we see our next First Minister draw on all of the agency available to them to act and achieve this and more? We must tackle child poverty, but we simultaneously need to tackle the scourge of poverty that blights all who are forced to endure its relentless harm. Disabled people. Single adult households. Those in rural and island communities.
Poverty is not inevitable. It’s a political choice. In a just and compassionate Scotland, we need those who form the next Scottish Government to choose something better. Ambition that is anchored to investment.
While there are no silver bullets for this, there needs to be a gold standard that enables all of us to live decent and dignified lives. This means urgent action delivered in a cohesive, targeted manner across prioritised areas like housing, social security, public debt, fuel poverty and advice services.
These are the choices the next Scottish Government can and must make.
Emma Jackson is Citizens Advice Scotland’s head of social justice
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