OVER the last week, British politics was dominated by two significant figures who have played central roles in public life over recent years.

At Westminster, Boris Johnson was questioned by fellow MPs regarding the details of the ‘Partygate’ affair and whether he intentionally lied to Parliament. The committee investigating will now have to reach a decision based on the evidence they have heard.

Here in Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon faced her last First Minister’s Questions and made her final parliamentary statement in the role. She will now become a backbencher for the first time in her 24 years at Holyrood.

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However, while these events hit the headlines, for me the much more important news was the report that child poverty rates in Scotland remain at the same level as they were when the SNP first came to power nearly 16 years ago.

They show one in four children living in Scotland was in relative poverty, after housing costs, between 2019 and 2022. These figures were published on Ms Sturgeon’s final day as First Minister at Holyrood and, perhaps more than any other statistics, demonstrate just how hollow her legacy looks after eight years in office.

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Imagine what could have been achieved if Ms Sturgeon had invested the same time and energy she spent on trying to secure a second independence referendum in driving down poverty and creating a fairer Scotland.

Poverty across the UK plummeted when Labour was last in power. However, it is clear both of our Governments have failed miserably to protect people from the cost-of-living crisis. As we approach the 25th anniversary of the Scottish Parliament next year, I want the new First Minister to make tackling poverty a clear priority, before another generation is lost as a result of this Scottish Government’s failure to act.