by Niall Christie

Scotland editor

SCOTTISH Labour leadership candidate Monica Lennon has unveiled a plan to end child poverty within a decade as she ramps up her campaign for the party’s top job. 

The Central Scotland MSP, who would lead the party at Holyrood if elected, said that years of unfulfilled promises from the SNP government have left too many young people suffering. 

Outlining her plan in a column in today’s Daily Record, Ms Lennon proposed an increase in the child payment to £30 a week, extra financial support for councils and the provision of an “affordable” home for all.

The MSP also pledged to ensure that no child was disadvantaged by the benefit cap or “rape clause.”

She said: “All the inequalities that existed before Covid disrupted the lives of children and young people are still looming large. Life during and after the pandemic can’t go on like this. 

“Under my leadership, Scottish Labour’s mission will be to defeat the causes of poverty and end the impact it has on children’s lives and life chances. 

“We will use the full might of the Scottish Parliament’s tax and social security powers. We will use top-up powers to boost other benefits and tackle the cost of the school day.

“Nicola Sturgeon has been obsessed with independence. I’ll be obsessed with abolishing child poverty and the poverty-related attainment gap that she promised to close.”

The publication of Ms Lennon’s proposals coincided with her gaining further labour movement backing, as Unison and the Communication Workers Union (CWU) joined Unite, Christians on the Left, the Socialist Health Association and the Socialist Educational Association Scotland in supporting her leadership bid. 

Her opponent, Anas Sarwar, is backed by Usdaw, GMB, Community, the National Union of Mineworkers and a number of affiliates.