Tackling Childhood Inequalities

The new leader of Scottish Labour is out in force following her election, but says she's under no illusions about the scale of the challenge.

Kezia Dugdale is calling on everybody in Scottish politics to get their priorities in order to put young people first.

The MSP claims those in government, the SNP and Tories, haven't been bold enought in the action needed to close the gap between the rich and poor:

"Today we start the hard work of rebuilding the Scottish Labour Party. We are under no illusions about the scale of the challenge, but ask that people in Scotland take a fresh look at us under the leadership of a new generation.

"I came into politics to make a difference to the lives of Scotland's next generation. The single most important task for me as Scottish Labour leader will be to champion Scotland's young people. 

"I want a Scotland where a child's ability to get on in life is determined by their potential, hard work and ambition, not where they were born or how much their parents earn.

"The collective performance of Scottish politics in recent years just hasn't been good enough. Those in government - both the Tories at Westminster and the SNP in Edinburgh - haven't taken the bold action needed to close the gap between rich and poor.

"For as long as there remains a single child in poverty we can never be satisfied as a nation that we are doing enough. Everybody in Scottish politics must get their priorities in order and put our young people first."