Letter: Child poverty
However, it is with deep concern that we read the Scottish Conservatives' education spokeswomen's suggestion that the rise in child poverty is the result of "poor parenting".
Parents go to extraordinary lengths to protect their children from the worst effects of poverty. If government in London and Edinburgh is serious about eradicating that poverty it must tackle its underlying causes: poverty pay, barriers to work such as lack of childcare, and the woeful inadequacy of our welfare safety net.
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Hide AdAny attempt to blame those who suffer the consequences of poverty, rather than tackle the actual causes of poverty, will inevitably lead to a return to the massive increases in child poverty last seen in the 1980s.
JIM BOYLE
Oxfam GB
JOHN DICKIE
Child Poverty Action Group in Scotland
THE REV IAN GALLOWAY
Church and Society Council of the Church of Scotland
PETER KELLY
Poverty Alliance
SUE ROBERTSON
One Parent Families Scotland