In a country as wealthy as Scotland, it is nothing short of scandalous that thousands of families are being forced to rely on food banks just to survive.

The latest report from the Trussell Trust reveals a damning truth: over two-fifths of Universal Credit recipients in Scotland ran out of food last month, and the crisis is deepening as the cost of living continues to rise. This is not just a statistic; it's a national disgrace.

No-one should have to choose between heating their home or feeding their family.

The growing reliance on food banks highlights a broken system, and its high time the Scottish Government takes responsibility for the widespread poverty they’ve allowed to fester.

The figures from the Trussell Trust paint a bleak picture: an estimated 70,000 people on Universal Credit in Scotland have turned to foodbanks in the last year, and a shocking 44 per cent of recipients have run out of food in just the past month.

Even more distressing, 64 per cent of working households on Universal Credit have gone without essentials in the last six months, proving that having a job is no longer a reliable way out of poverty.

The food poverty crisis in Scotland reflects deeper economic issues, including stagnant wages, rising living costs, and a surge in precarious, low-wage jobs.

Many families struggle to cover basics despite working full-time, and delays and cuts in social security only worsen their plight.

To effectively combat food poverty, we must address these systemic inequalities and ensure that our social safety nets provide real support to those in need.

One of the core failures identified by the Trussell Trust is the five-week wait for Universal Credit payments, which forces many into debt before they’ve even received their first payment.

The last Labour government lifted 120,000 children and 130,000 pensioners out of poverty in Scotland, and at the General Election, Labour made clear its commitment to reviewing Universal Credit so that it makes work pay and tackles poverty.

We must end mass dependence on emergency food parcels, which is a moral scar on our society. We must take steps to confront poverty, slash fuel poverty, ban exploitative zero-hour contracts, introduce a real living wage, and improve support to help people get into good work.

Despite 17 years in government, the SNP’s promises to tackle poverty have resulted in rising foodbank dependency and worsening conditions.

Their inaction and mismanagement have failed Scotland’s most vulnerable, leaving many families struggling. It’s time for more than empty promises—we need real, effective solutions to end the cycle of poverty.

The Scottish and UK  Governments must urgently address the inadequacies in the social security system that are pushing thousands of families into poverty.

Food banks are a temporary fix, not a permanent solution.

Every day that passes without substantial change is a day that more families face hunger and hardship. The people of Scotland deserve better, and it is our responsibility to ensure they receive it.