Bridget Phillipson, the UK Education Secretary and Labour deputy leadership hopeful, has called on the SNP to address Scotland's education crisis, warning that young people 'cannot afford a third decade of the SNP'. Speaking during a campaign trip to Scotland on Sunday, she pledged to work 'day and night' to deliver a Labour government led by Anas Sarwar at next year's Holyrood election.
Ms Phillipson highlighted that more than 10,000 children in Scotland were homeless last year, the attainment gap between rich and poor pupils remains 'stubbornly wide', and college places are at their lowest in a decade. She argued that Labour governments working together in both Holyrood and Westminster would be the 'best way to lift Scottish children out of poverty'.
The Houghton and Sunderland South MP also stated that lifting the two-child benefit cap was 'on the table' as part of her role as co-chair of the UK Government's task force on child poverty. She criticised Reform UK as 'chancers' who would let the SNP 'hang on to power', urging that only a united Labour Party can beat the SNP.
In response, SNP MSP Stuart McMillan accused Labour of keeping the 'abhorrent' two-child benefit cap, while the SNP Scottish Government is scrapping it from March next year. He claimed Scotland is the only part of the UK reducing child poverty, and that the SNP is working for a fresh start with independence.
A Scottish Government spokesperson said they are 'absolutely committed' to tackling child poverty, noting it has fallen in Scotland despite UK Government decisions. They added that they are developing systems to scrap the impact of the two-child limit from next year.
