ALBA's 5 Point Plan

ALBA's 5 Point Plan

When the ALBA Party was formed in 2021, we announced our 5-Point Plan to combat child poverty. In order to eradicate poverty, governments must redistribute wealth to those on the bottom rung of the ladder and that principle runs throughout our 5-point plan.

We commit to increasing the laudable Scottish Child Payment to the Joseph Rowntree Recommendation of £40 a week. Further redistribution is provided by a one-off payment to low-income families across Scotland. Something that two ALBA Councillors in Inverclyde managed to secure in their annual budget in 2022. We also believe that the Educational Maintenance Allowance (EMA) should be doubled to £60, thus allowing for some of the most disadvantaged young adults in Scotland to continue their education.

There is an inextricable link between poor standards of health and well-being and poverty. Our plan helps to combat the increasing levels of poor health amongst our young people by removing the financial barriers that currently exist to access sports facilities. It is our belief that all children have the right to high-quality breakfasts and lunches all year round and a legal right to food if they need it. This is why we commit to free school meals for all children, all year round.

The Scottish Government has the power to implement every single point of ALBA’s 5-point plan. In its entirety, this plan would cost just 2.29% of the Scottish Government’s budget and each policy would go a long way to alleviate much of the pressures families are facing across the country.