CHILD poverty levels in rural Scotland have reached the highest levels on record.
The most recent poverty figures show that between 2020-23 and 2021-24, the child poverty rate in rural Scotland rose from 14.5 per cent to 21.3 per cent – its highest level on record.
While the overall number of people in relative poverty in Scotland declined slightly in this time, in rural communities it soared by 16 per cent.
The figures have lead to South Scotland MSP Colin Smyth accusing the Scottish government of “hollowing out” rural communities, he said: “My South Scotland constituency takes in some of the most rural parts of Scotland and we see the evidence of the Scottish Government’s neglect in every aspect of rural life.
“After almost 18 years of SNP government, rural economies are struggling, housing is short in supply, and healthcare is too often out of reach.
“People are being cut off by ferries that don’t sail, roads that aren’t safe and buses that barely exist.
“The SNP’s failures in government are hollowing out rural communities and here we can see the devastating consequences.
“Tackling poverty requires us to use every power we have to deliver good jobs, affordable housing, healthcare and opportunities in every corner of the country and that’s what a Scottish Labour government will do.”
