The SNP Government has been accused of peddling “dodgy data” by dumping claims they had “lifted” 100,000 children out of poverty.
First Minister John Swinney is now saying policies like the Scottish Child Payment will “keep” more kids from falling into the trap.
Labour MSP Paul O’Kane said: “The SNP has a history of relying on dubious stats, but it is shameful that the government appears to have been fudging the numbers on something as important as child poverty. Accurate data is paramount in understanding how policies are having an impact.”
The 100,000 figure can be traced to modelling published by Humza Yousaf’s Government in February. The Scottish Government and the SNP then claimed their policies had lifted, or could lift, this specific number of kids out of poverty.
Yousaf said in May: “I can hear the Conservatives saying that those anti-poverty measures are not working, but it is estimated that they will lift 100,000 children out of poverty this year, in stark contrast to what the Conservatives are doing.”
In a variation of the theme, Swinney said days later that a policy such as the SCP is “taking 100,000 children out of poverty today.” Social Justice Cabinet Secretary Shirley Anne-Somerville said in June: “We have been able to demonstrate that we have lifted 100,000 children out of poverty through the Scottish Government’s actions.”
The SNP went further in September by linking the figure to the SCP alone: “The SNP introduced the Scottish Child Payment – which has already lifted more than 100,000 kids out of poverty.”
However, official figures show that relative child poverty rates have remained broadly unchanged since the SNP swept to power in 2007.
Labour raised the alarm as Swinney now talks about how his policies have kept kids from going into poverty, rather than lifting them out of it.
He said during a speech last month: “We already have a strong track record of improving the lives of children across Scotland, including through our game-changing Scottish Child Payment and expansion of early learning and childcare.
“This government’s policies are estimated to keep 100,000 children out of relative poverty this year.”
His finance cabinet secretary, Shona Robison, also said recently that the SCP and other initiatives keep 100,000 kids out of poverty. But she corrected the parliamentary record recently to say this is an estimate for “this year.”
O’Kane said: “The fact is there are 30,000 more children in poverty than when the SNP came to government, and no amount of spin can change that. Instead of manufacturing dodgy data to mask its record of failure, the SNP should focus on using the powers it has to tackle the scourge of poverty in Scotland and give every child a fair start in life.”
Lib Dem MSP Willie Rennie said: “This stat has always seemed to be on shaky ground. Ministers must not simply make things up. Far too many Scottish kids are still in poverty.”
Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said: “We are extremely proud that SNP policies, including the Scottish Child Payment and Best Start Grants, are keeping 100,000 children in Scotland out of poverty.
“We continue to call on the Labour UK Government to get rid of damaging welfare cuts brought in by the Tories like the two child benefit cap and rape clause.
“New research has shown that abolishing the two child benefit cap immediately and matching the Scottish Child Payment UK-wide would lift more than half a million children out of poverty across the UK – including more than 40,000 children in communities across Scotland.”
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