Programme for Government ‘treading water in a storm of poverty and inequality’

This final curtain call for this Scottish Parliament should have been a defining moment packed with purpose and progress. Instead of providing a springboard for change, Oxfam Scotland warns that the Government is ‘once again treading water while the storms of poverty, inequality and the climate crisis rage’.

Notably, while Ministers reiterated their welcome commitment to mitigating the two-child limit, they failed to act on growing pressure, including from Oxfam Scotland and dozens of other children’s and anti-poverty charities, to increase the Scottish Child Payment to £40 per week. This simple, proven step would have put more money directly into the pockets of families who need it most, accelerating recent progress to reduce child poverty.

The Scottish Government also failed to step up wider action to deliver the greener, fairer Scotland the First Minister has said it is his mission to create.

While confirmation of a new payment for those who provide unpaid care for more than one person is positive, too many carers, both paid and unpaid, are still being short-changed and left in poverty. And there’s still no sign of when Scotland will finally recognise the value of care through a long-promised National Outcome.

Meanwhile, the wealthiest polluters are let off the hook again, with Ministers failing to operationalise devolved powers to tax air passengers, leaving plans to land a fair tax on pollution-spewing private jets stuck on the runway. Campaigners say the money raised from this tax – estimated to be up to an extra £30m a year - could help to pay for the Scottish Government’s welcome new pledge to permanently scrap peak rail fares.

Yet those on low incomes are still at risk of being left behind, with no expansion of concessionary travel to make public transport truly affordable and accessible for all. There is also no commitment to provide full public grants to those on low-incomes to transition to clean heat as part of the watered-down Heat in Buildings Bill.

And, after decades of dithering, Ministers have outlined no further plans for Council Tax reform: leaving Scots stuck with an unfair, broken system and no concrete plan to fix it.

Jamie Livingstone, Head of Oxfam Scotland, said: “This Programme for Government is too quiet on inequality, too soft on polluters and too slow on change: Scottish Ministers are once again treading water while the storms of poverty, inequality and the climate crisis rage.

“Warm words and promises of a future child poverty delivery plan aren’t good enough. While compensating those impacted by the UK-wide two-child limit is welcome, not raising the Scottish Child Payment is a political and moral failure.

“And while permanently scrapping peak rail fares is positive, if we’re serious about making Scotland fairer and greener, we need much bolder action, backed by fair taxation. Scottish Ministers must stop dithering and start delivering.”

Ahead of the Programme for Government, Oxfam Scotland had laid out a clear, practical set of recommendations for progress, one that didn’t rely on distant promises, but focused on actions that could be delivered now.

Campaigners are now calling on all parties at Holyrood to step up as they shape their 2026 election manifestos. With poverty and inequality rampant and the climate crisis deepening, Oxfam Scotland says now is the time for bold near-term action, not empty long-term promises.

/ENDS

For more information and interviews, please contact: Rebecca Lozza, Media and Communications Adviser, Oxfam Scotland: rlozza1@oxfam.org.uk / 07917738450

Notes to Editors

• Read Oxfam Scotland’s Programme for Government briefing 10 Bold Actions for a Greener, Fairer and More Caring Scotland here.