Rural Poverty Rises By 50% Under SNP Revealed By Labour

17th April 2023

Scottish Labour has said Scotland's rural communities have been "abandoned" as rural poverty soars by 50 per cent under the SNP.

Since the SNP came to government in 2007 the number of households in poverty in rural Scotland has soared by around 50 per cent, rising more than twice as fast as the national average.

This sharp increase has pushed an extra 150,000 households into relative poverty and 50,000 households into severe poverty.

These astonishing figures come as amid scrutiny of the SNP's record on rural policy, which has become central to the growing divisions within the party.

Labour has accused the SNP of presiding over "years of mismanagement and neglect" in rural policy, including the ferry fiasco, delays to the A9 dualling and cuts to rural Councils and enterprise agencies.

Commenting, Scottish Labour Rural Affairs spokesperson Rhoda Grant said "These shameful figures show how badly rural Scotland has been abandoned by the SNP.

"Years of mismanagement and neglect has pushed thousands of people into poverty and left rural communities on the brink.

"Local services have been cut to the bone and lifeline transport links allowed to fall into complete disarray, and the worst off are paying the harshest price.

"Every single part of Scotland is being badly failed by the SNP - they must end this betrayal and set out a real plan to tackle poverty and revitalise rural communities."

Other Major Issues Facing the SNP Green Coalition

Fiscal Sustainability Report Shows Tough Decisions For Scottish Government

The Ferries Fiasco Increasingly Hitting Communities

Doubts Over Ferries Costs The Future Of Ferguson Marine Shipyard And Unacceptable Bonus Payments

Full Transparency On NHS Scotland Recovery Needed As Waiting Lists Grow And Lack Of Doctors And Nurses

SNP And Greens Need To Stop The Deposit Return Scheme For Bottles

Humza Yousaf Becomes Scotland's First Minister A Decade Of Polls Suggest He Will Struggle To Deliver Independence Just Like Nicola Sturgeon

Scottish Independence Referendum Why The Economic Issues Are Quite Different To 2014

Other Issues For the Independence Debate

SNP/Greens have not properly answered the currency question.

Will Scotland have its own central bank to replace the Bank of England or is using the pound with no control over interest rates and how will it affect the economy of Scotland?

Cuts to Local government in Scotland evidenced by reducing services and the state of the roads all over.

Many questions over pensions and health services.