Together supports alternative manifesto for next UK Government

Date: 9th December 2019
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A partnership of 17 children’s organisations led by Children in Scotland has launched an alternative Manifesto detailing actions that should be taken by the new UK Government to transform children’s lives.

The manifesto identifies four key areas the next UK Government, and MPs elected to the new parliament, should focus on to ensure the rights of children and young people across the UK.

It makes 14 specific calls which, if acted on, would lead to improvements in children and young people’s experiences of their rights. The 14 calls include:

• Child poverty: End the benefit cap and readopt legally binding targets to reduce child poverty;
• Democracy: Extend the vote to 16- and 17-year olds in all UK elections – local elections, general elections and referenda;
• Climate crisis: Support the work of the Scottish Youth Climate Strikers, who urge the UK Government to commit to a specific target of achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2030;
• Europe: Continue EU funding for Erasmus+, allowing young people to study, volunteer and participate in youth work in the EU.

The manifesto has been shaped by the priorities of Children in Scotland’s members and partners, research and evidence across key child policy areas, learning from previous projects, including the 25 Calls campaign and the views expressed by the children, young people and families that the organisations work with.

• Read the alternative manifesto here.