The shocking number of Scottish children living in poverty must galvanise SNP into action – Claire Telfer

Scotland has long been blighted by high rates of child poverty (Picture: Jeff J Mitchell) | Getty Images

One in five children in Scotland is growing up in poverty. As MSPs return to Holyrood, the Programme for Government is the first real test in this parliament of whether the Scottish Government will match its defining mission with the action children urgently need.

Scotland set its ambitions high in 2017 when it introduced legislation and targets to dramatically reduce child poverty. Fast forward almost a decade, and the numbers show we’re not where we ought to be. The Scottish Government has also announced plans to review its targets.

It is staggering that today, in 2026, one out of every five children in Scotland is being held back by insufficient income. Behind this figure lies the daily realities of living with poverty.

For some children, summer meant watching friends go on days out while they stayed home because the travel cost, packed lunch or entry fee was simply out of reach. These are the realities of poverty, and they are not going away.

READ MORE: How Scotland’s poverty trap pushes people into suicide, and how politicians can restore hope

More ambition required

Across Scotland, too many people feel overlooked and let down by our politicians. We have seen this play out in worrying ways across our communities. Rebuilding trust starts with showing people that politics can still make a practical difference in their lives – and there is no clearer test than whether Scotland acts for children growing up in poverty.

If Scotland is falling short of its child poverty targets, the answer should be to renew our commitment, step up action and focus on how we get back on track – not lower our sights. We urgently need a stronger and more ambitious approach that sets out how the government will get back on track to meet the targets, and how it will support children and families struggling right now.

We have seen what can be achieved when politicians put in place bold policies such as the Scottish Child Payment. By investing in children, we can build a Scotland where everyone has the childhood they deserve.

Every child should have the opportunity to play, learn and thrive. Bold, urgent action to support families with babies and young children and address gaps in childcare and housing would help get things right for children and build a better Scotland for all of us. It is vital that politicians take steps towards this at the first opportunity.

READ MORE: Poverty is a political choice that Scotland's next government must change

Strong public support

Our research tells us that the public are on side. An overwhelming majority of us are worried about child poverty, and want to see politicians taking action to change this. When we recently asked 2,600 young people what they thought the Scottish Government’s top priority should be, two-thirds said “tackling child poverty”, a greater number than on any other issue.

The decisions we make today will shape the Scotland that young people grow up in. It is vital that we listen to their voices, to the voices of families who are struggling right now, and to the wider public.

We all want to see bold action to change the reality for children and build a thriving Scotland, and we all stand to benefit if we achieve this. The Programme for Government must leave no doubt: Scotland has a plan, the investment and the political will to end child poverty.

Claire Telfer is head of Scotland at Save the Children UK