Sturgeon urged to fight child poverty and end independence obsession
NICOLA Sturgeon has been told to concentrate on beating child poverty rather than obsessing over independence as shock figures today expose deep pockets of deprivation across Scotland.
Nicola Sturgeon has been told to focus on fighting child poverty following shocking figures
There are now 166 Scottish neighbourhoods where more than half the children live in families facing grinding daily poverty, up from 131 the previous year, with all but 13 of them now in the hands of SNP MSPs.
Several of the districts with the highest levels of child poverty are in the First Minister's own Glasgow Southside constituency.
One such neighbourhood, in Laurieston and Tradeston, has 81 per cent of under-16s living in poverty, which is defined as less than 60 per cent of the national median income.
The Scottish average according to the most recent figures from HM Revenue and Customs is 18.6 per cent, or 164,035 children - up by 7,030 on the previous year.
A "devastating" rise in child poverty was revealed in a Scottish Government report earlier this month, prompting calls for SNP ministers to use Holyrood's new tax and spending powers to take action.
However, Ms Sturgeon has so far refused to be distracted from her key ambition of calling another independence referendum and the issue is set to dominate again this week thanks to the delayed Holyrood vote on Tuesday.
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The recent Government report revealed the national level of child poverty but the HMRC statistics expose the shocking picture at a local level, using small areas of typically less than 1,000 people known as "data zones".
Thousands of people are living in these areas and enduring utterly unacceptable conditions
Parts of Dalmarnock (84.4 per cent) and Parkhead West and Barrowfield (83.3 per cent) in Glasgow's East End have Scotland's highest levels of child poverty, followed by Laurieston and Tradeston and Wyndford (74.7).
The highest levels outside Glasgow are found in Lower Bow and Larkfield, Fancy Farm and Mallard Bowl (70 per cent) in Greenock, part of Dundee City Centre (68.2 per cent) and Altonhill South, Longpark and Hillhead (67.3 per cent) in Kilmarnock.
Ivan McKee, the millionaire businessman who represents Glasgow Provan, has 20 neighbourhoods in his constituency where more than half of the children live in poverty, as does Glasgow Shettleston MSP John Mason.
Bob Doris, the MSP for Maryhill and Springburn, represents 11 such deprived neighbourhoods, with Glasgow Cathcart MSP James Dornan and Greenock and Inverclyde MSP Stuart McMillan both responsible for eight.
The full breakdown includes districts all the way from Wick South, represented by the SNP's Gail Ross, to Stranraer West, represented by Conservative MSP Finlay Carson.
Three neighbourhoods within Conservative leader Ruth Davidson's Edinburgh Central seat have more than half of children in poverty, while party colleague John Scott represents four such areas in and around Ayr.
However, the overwhelming majority of these deprived districts are represented by SNP constituency MSPs, leaving the Nationalists open to accusations they are neglecting the very people who voted for them.
Scottish Conservative equalities spokeswoman Annie Wells said: “Thousands of people are living in these areas and enduring utterly unacceptable conditions.
“But instead of helping out their own constituents, with Nicola Sturgeon’s area being a prime example, the Nationalists are obsessing with another referendum.
“It tells you everything you need to know about the First Minister’s priorities.
“She lets her constituency rot while concentrating all her energy on breaking up Britain.”
Equalities Secretary Angela Constance last month tabled a Child Poverty (Scotland) Bill at Holyrood, which aims to reduce the number of children living in relative poverty to less than 10 per cent by 2030.
However, Labour described it as a "parliamentary PR exercise" and is calling for the SNP to use Holyrood's new powers to top-up child benefit, which it claims could lift 30,000 children out of poverty within three years.
There are 166 Scottish nieghbourhoods where more than half of the children live in poverty
The Scottish Parliament's Social Security Committee will discuss the Bill during a special meeting at Glasgow City Chambers tomorrow(MON), with the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) set to warn that the 2030 target will not be met.
Research for the JRF by Heriot Watt University shows that even with "a positive set of economic circumstances and policy choices", child poverty will still be above the 10 per cent target by 2041.
The charity also states that Scotland and the rest of the UK has "passed a turning point with child poverty rates rising again after a period of progress".
A Scottish Government spokesman said: "Every child deserves the best start in life, which is why we’re fully committed to tackling child poverty. Our Child Poverty Bill will see Scotland become the only part of the UK with statutory income targets in a bid to reduce the number of children experiencing the damaging effects of poverty by 2030.
"A range of actions are being taken across government to tackle inequalities, including increasing childcare, additional financial support to reduce the attainment gap, an improvement programme to address neglect and enhance wellbeing, and spending £100million in welfare mitigation measures to protect the most vulnerable from the UK Government’s austerity agenda and welfare cuts."
* The HMRC figures used for our analysis were published last September and relate to August 2014, allowing time for the job of compiling detailed statistics for Scotland's 6,977 data zones.
Full list below:
Dalmarnock - 84.4% - John Mason
Parkhead West and Barrowfield - 83.3% - John Mason
Laurieston and Tradeston 81.0% Nicola Sturgeon
Wyndford 74.7% Ivan McKee
North Barlanark and Easterhouse South 74.0% Ivan McKee
Knightswood Park East 71.9% Bill Kidd
Bridgeton 71.3% John Mason
Lower Bow and Larkfield, Fancy Farm, Mallard Bowl 70.0% Stuart McMillan
City Centre 68.2% Joe Fitzpatrick
Altonhill South, Longpark and Hillhead 67.3% Willie Coffey
Keppochhill 67.1% Ivan McKee
Scotstoun South and West 67.0% Bill Kidd
Shawfield and Clincarthill 65.9% Clare Haughey
Linlathen and Midcraigie 63.4% Shona Robison
Ayr North Harbour, Wallacetown and Newton South 63.3% John Scott
Greenfield 62.3% Ivan McKee
Paisley Ferguslie 61.9% George Adam
Cardonald North 61.6% Humza Yousaf
Lochee 61.5% Joe Fitzpatrick
Nitshill 60.8% Humza Yousaf
Alloa South and East 60.7% Keith Brown
Springburn East and Cowlairs 60.5% Bob Doris
Sinclairtown Central 60.3% David Torrance
Dalmilling 60.3% John Scott
Old Shettleston and Parkhead North 60.2% Ivan McKee
Ardrossan Central 60.2% Kenneth Gibson
City Centre East 60.0% Sandra White
Possil Park 59.8% Bob Doris
Shettleston North 59.6% John Mason
Drumchapel South 59.6% Bill Kidd
Nitshill 59.4% Humza Yousaf
Falkirk - Bainsford and Langlees 59.3% Michael Matheson
Petershill 59.2% Bob Doris
Douglas West 59.1% Shona Robison
Greenock East 59.1% Stuart McMillan
Ayr North Harbour, Wallacetown and Newton South 59.1% John Scott
Gorbals and Hutchesontown 58.9% Nicola Sturgeon
Braeside, Branchton, Lower Larkfield and Ravenscraig 58.8% Stuart McMillan
Glenwood South 58.7% James Dornan
Craigneuk Wishaw 58.5% Clare Adamson
Cowlairs and Port Dundas 58.3% Bob Doris
Clovenstone and Wester Hailes 58.0% Gordon MacDonald
Possil Park 58.0% Bob Doris
Stevenston North West 58.0% Ruth Maguire
Logie and Blackness 57.9% Joe Fitzpatrick
Riddrie and Hogganfield57.9% Ivan McKee
IZ13 (Kirktonhill, Dumbarton) 57.7% Jackie Baillie
Shortlees 57.5% Willie Coffey
Altonhill South, Longpark and Hillhead 57.5% Willie Coffey
Ibrox 57.3% Nicola Sturgeon
Milton West 57.0% Bob Doris
Irvine Castlepark South 57.0% Ruth Maguire
Greenock West and Central 56.9% Stuart McMillan
Crookston South 56.8% Humza Yousaf
North Barlanark and Easterhouse South 56.8% Ivan McKee
IZ13 (Dumbarton) 56.8% Jackie Baillie
Carntyne West and Haghill 56.6% John Mason
Hillhead 56.3% Gil Paterson
Drumchapel North 56.3% Bill Kidd
Buckhaven South 56.1% David Torrance
Castlemilk 56.0% James Dornan
Barmulloch 56.0% Ivan McKee
Springburn East and Cowlairs 55.8% Bob Doris
Irvine Central 55.7% Ruth Maguire
Toryglen and Oatlands 55.6% Nicola Sturgeon
Grangemouth Town Centre 55.5% Angus MacDonald
Granton South and Wardieburn 55.4% Ben Macpherson
Strutherhill 55.4% Christina McKelvie
Lochside and Lincluden 55.3% Finlay Carson
Murrayburn and Wester Hailes North 55.3% Gordon MacDonald
Possil Park 55.3% Bob Doris
Greenock Town Centre and East Central 55.2% Stuart McMillan
Calton and Gallowgate 55.1% John Mason
Riddrie and Hogganfield 55.1% Ivan McKee
Keppochhill 55.1% Bob Doris
Kilwinning Pennyburn 55.0% Ruth Maguire
Kilwinning West and Blacklands 55.0% Ruth Maguire
Milton West 54.9% Bob Doris
Barlanark 54.7% John Mason
Cumbernauld Central 54.7% Jamie Hepburn
Greenock East 54.5% Stuart McMillan
Cranhill, Lightburn and Queenslie South 54.3% Ivan McKee
Scotstoun South and West 54.3% Bill Kidd
Raploch 54.3% Bruce Crawford
Hillhouse 54.0% Christina McKelvie
Glenwood South 53.9% James Dornan
North Barlanark and Easterhouse South 53.5% Ivan McKee
Lochside, Braehead and Whitletts 53.4% John Scott
Dennistoun 53.3% Ivan McKee
Wick South 53.3% Gail Ross
Whitlawburn and Greenlees 53.2% Clare Haughey
Maddiston and Rumford 53.1% Angus MacDonald
Nitshill 53.1% Humza Yousaf
Glenwood South 53.1% James Dornan
Gallatown West 53.0% David Torrance
Strathore 53.0% Jenny Gilruth
Greenock Town Centre and East Central 52.9% Stuart McMillan
Ballingry East 52.7% Annabelle Ewing
Gallowgate North and Bellgrove 52.7% John Mason
Partick 52.7% Sandra White
Blackburn 52.7% Angela Constance
Linlathen and Midcraigie - 52.4% Shona Robison
Barmulloch 52.4% Ivan McKee
Kelty South West 52.2% Annabelle Ewing
Methil Kirkland 52.2% David Torrance
Methil Trees East 52.1% David Torrance
Wyndford 52.1% Ivan McKee
Whitburn Central 52.1% Angela Constance
Altonhill North and Onthank 51.9% Willie Coffey
Central and South Inch 51.9% John Swinney
Whitlawburn and Greenlees 51.8% Clare Haughey
Dalry and Fountainbridge 51.7% Ruth Davidson
Thrashbush 51.7% Alex Neil
Old Town, Princes Street and Leith Street 51.6% Ruth Davidson
Parkhead East and Braidfauld North 51.6% John Mason
Johnstone South West 51.6% Tom Arthur
Paisley Central 51.6% George Adam
Greenfield 51.5% Ivan McKee
Cornton 51.4% Bruce Crawford
Stranraer West 51.3% Finlay Carson
Irvine East 51.3% Ruth Maguire
The Glens 51.2% Shona Robison
Drumchapel South 51.2% Gil Paterson
Ibrox East and Cessnock 51.1% Nicola Sturgeon
Dalkeith 51.1% Colin Beattie
Docks and Wellgate 51.0% Shona Robison
Dalmeny, Kirkliston and Newbridge 51.0% Alex Cole-Hamilton
Carnwadric West 51.0% James Dornan
Glenwood South 51.0% James Dornan
Irvine Castlepark South 51.0% Ruth Maguire
Paisley Gallowhill and Hillington 51.0% George Adam
Braidfauld 50.9% John Mason
Braidfauld 50.9% John Mason
Blackhill and Barmulloch East 50.9% Ivan McKee
Bingham, Magdalene and The Christians 50.8% Ash Denham
Sinclairtown North 50.8% David Torrance
Inverness Merkinch 50.8% Fergus Ewing
Shortlees 50.7% Willie Coffey
Nitshill 50.7% Humza Yousaf
Carmunnock South 50.7% James Dornan
Central Easterhouse 50.7% Ivan McKee
Cowlairs and Port Dundas 50.7% Bob Doris
Drumry East 50.7% Bill Kidd
Logie and Blackness 50.6% Joe Fitzpatrick
Carntyne West and Haghill 50.6% Ivan McKee
Maryhill West 50.6% Bob Doris
Cumnock Rural 50.5% Jeanne Freeman
IZ07 (Prestonpans) 50.5% Iain Gray
Dunterlie, East Arthurlie and Dovecothall 50.5% Tom Arthur
Cranhill, Lightburn and Queenslie South 50.5% Ivan McKee
Motherwell North 50.5% Clare Adamson
Doon Valley South 50.4% Jeanne Freeman
Doon Valley South 50.4% Jeanne Freeman
Gorbals and Hutchesontown 50.4% Nicola Sturgeon
Springburn 50.4% Bob Doris
Strutherhill 50.4% Christina McKelvie
Glenwood North 50.3% James Dornan
Roystonhill, Blochairn, and Provanmill 50.3% Ivan McKee
Blairdardie East 50.3% Bill Kidd
Newmains 50.3% Clare Adamson
Old Town, Princes Street and Leith Street 50.0% Ruth Davidson
Summerston Central and West 50.0% Bob Doris
Port Glasgow Upper, West and Central 50.0% Stuart McMillan
Craigneuk Wishaw 50.0% Clare Adamson
Burnhill and Bankhead North 50.0% Clare Haughey
Burnside and Springhall 50.0% Clare Haughey