Michael Marra calls for commission to tackle child poverty

Privatisation / 18 September 2026 MPs reject Thames Water rescue deal and urge Burnham to renationalise 18 September 2026 Jagtar Singh Johal / 18 September 2026 Scot bailed after nine years of ‘arbitrary detention’ in India 18 September 2026 Healthcare Crisis / 18 September 2026 NHS Trust found to have given around 20 women unnecessary mastectomies 18 September 2026 Palestine Solidarity / 18 September 2026 Wales Pension Partnership urged to move ahead with divestment from genocide 18 September 2026 Healthcare / 18 September 2026 Welsh ministers must use their powers to fix NHS pay, unions urge 18 September 2026 Scotland / 18 September 2026 Comrades gather in Glasgow for book lunch on General Strike centenary 18 September 2026 MICHAEL MARRA has kicked-off his Scottish Labour leadership with a call on First Minister John Swinney to set up a cross-party commission aimed at getting Scotland “back on track” and meet its child poverty targets.

In 2017, Holyrood agreed a legally binding target to cut child poverty to 10 per cent or less by 2030/31, but latest figures — covering 2022 to 2025 — showed the rate still stands at 21 per cent. 

Mr Marra acknowledged progress had been made and the figure stood below the 27 per cent rate measured across Britain as whole in 2024-25, he warned Scotland is “going to miss those targets by a mile” without action.

Writing to John Swinney, he said: “We have a little over three years left.

“So, I am today proposing that we establish a cross-party commission to agree a set of proposals that Holyrood can pass in law or enact in policy before 2030.

“In politics three years can feel like a short time. In the life of a child, it is enormous.  We cannot write off another generation while we argue about who is to blame.”

Responding, the First Minister said his government remained committed to “eradicating” child poverty.

“I am always open to additional ideas and I welcome Mr Marra’s commitment to work together on this, which we discussed by telephone today,” he said.

“I am keen to take these discussions forward including through the normal Budget process.”

He added: “There are also many aspects of UK government policy, such as the freeze to local housing allowance and the ongoing commitment to the benefit cap, that are deepening poverty and driving homelessness. 

“We need to work together to change these policies too.”