Tackling Child Poverty, Health, and Climate Now!
Getting more involved in politics is something my forehead wasn’t prepared for. Speech after speech, policy after policy, failure after failure, hands on the head, and my head slapping is increasing.
I briefly review the Scottish Government’s pre-budget fiscal update in this post.
This should briefly highlight how the Scottish Government and the UK leadership are failing the people on crucial issues like child poverty, public health, and the environment.
Child Poverty Crisis
The Scottish Government has made some attempts to tackle child poverty, like introducing the Scottish Child Payment. However, this effort isn’t keeping up with rising inflation and the worsening cost-of-living crisis. Children are still falling through the cracks.
The Green Party has always championed real reform, pushing for systemic changes that make a long-term difference. We need better-targeted welfare support and greater investment in services that help struggling families, not half-hearted solutions that barely scratch the surface.
Labour at Westminster is also cutting back support for the most vulnerable. For example, the recent announcement to stop Winter Fuel Payments for pensioners not receiving Pension Credit means more households could fall into fuel poverty. Both governments need to do more to lift people out of their difficulties regarding fundamental necessities
Population Health – An Overlooked Crisis
Scotland’s population is suffering from long NHS backlogs, limited access to mental health services, and poor public health infrastructure. The Government’s current response, which focuses mainly on managing these backlogs and sticking plasters, ignores the root causes.
Air pollution, a lack of green spaces, poor diet and unhealthy living conditions all affect people’s well-being.
Green Party solutions look beyond the immediate crises. We believe in addressing the root causes of poor health by investing in preventive health measures, improving air quality, and making communities greener and healthier. The current Government’s patchwork solutions are not enough.
Environmental Failures – Climate Talk, But No Real Action
Despite declaring a climate emergency five years ago, the Scottish Government still needs to deliver on its promises. They’ve cut sustainable transport programs and even backtracked on efforts like reducing peak rail fares. Meanwhile, road expansions continue to move forward despite being totally unjustifiable in the middle of a climate crisis.
The Green Party’s Climate Reset calls for immediate, bold action to put us back on track. We need a drastic reduction in emissions, investment in public transport, and a stop to harmful projects like airport expansions. Instead, the Government is making excuses while our planet suffers.
Labour’s Missed Opportunity
At Westminster, Labour recently admitted the extent of their inherited economic mess. Rachel Reeves laid out a plan to cut back on public spending, but the cuts hit the most vulnerable the hardest and not the wealthiest.
Instead of focusing on solutions and redistribution to address climate change or support for the rising costs of public services, Labour’s plan leaves us facing reduced benefits, fewer sustainable and efficient mass transport projects, and no real investment in future infrastructure.
The Path Forward
The Scottish Government and Labour’s response at Westminster reflects a lack of real vision. We need leaders willing to make tough decisions that invest in people, the environment, and sustainable infrastructure, not those who shy away from difficult choices. The Green Party continues to push for reforms that address the climate crisis and ensure social justice and economic fairness.
Let’s demand more. It’s time to hold governments accountable and push for policies to build a better, greener future for everyone. We can’t afford more empty promises. So as Lorna said, if you want progressive, Green politics, you have to vote Green.
#GreenFuture #ClimateAction #SocialJustice #BetterScotland #TimeForChange
Horizon Glasgow 
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