EAGLE-EYED FMQs viewers will have spotted that all MSPs are wearing blue badges in the Scottish Parliament this afternoon.
Every party leader and their MSPs who were present in the socially distanced Chamber sported the pins on their lapels to raise awareness of Challenge Poverty Week.
Challenge Poverty Week, organised by The Poverty Alliance, takes place from October 5 to 11 and is aimed at uniting people across society to speak out against poverty.
The campaign wants to build awareness around solutions to poverty, and help to end the stigma around living on a low-income.
READ MORE: Covid in Scotland: Another five deaths and 1027 cases announced
This year the campaign is focused on three key messages – that too many people in Scotland face the “constant pressure” of living in poverty, that the economy must be redesigned to be more compassionate in the wake of the Covid-19 crisis, and that boosting people’s incomes and reducing the cost of living is the key to a more equal Scotland.
According to the Joseph Rowntree Foundation almost one in five people in Scotland live in poverty. The situation is worse for children, with one in four believed to be living in poverty.
During FMQs the Scottish Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie raised the campaign, telling the Chamber: “Right now workers across Scotland are faced with financial hardship, job losses and uncertainty especially in hospitality businesses – which even before the pandemic already suffered from endemic low pay, insecure contracts and poor working conditions.”
Pictured: A close-up of the badges worn in the Chamber
He said today, as part of Challenge Poverty Week, all MSPs were being asked to step up on action to achieve fair work practices – pointing out that some employers have asked staff to take unpaid leave due to new hospitality restrictions.
Harvie asked how many full-paid jobs the Scottish Government’s £40 million fund to help businesses forced to close would support, and whether it matched “the scale of need” in the sector.
Nicola Sturgeon said ministers have been having discussions with stakeholders and will shortly announce details on how the £40m will be allocated across businesses.
The First Minister said the Government dug as deep as it could in its budget to make the £40m available but “what we really need to see is action from the UK Government” to “properly compensate” businesses which are forced to close due to the pandemic.
Visit www.challengepoverty.net/ to find out more.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel