Poor showing

POVERTY is a blight and something all want to avoid. We have a welfare state providing much-needed assistance for those who fall on hard times.

As the election approaches poverty and welfare must be addressed and the parties must provide a real step change in dealing with them.

Labour proposes a mansion tax on properties over £2 million to redistribute wealth. But the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats are planning to force unemployed 18-25-year-olds to carry out 30 hours of community work for their £57 a week benefit, which will do nothing to close the poverty gap. If any of them prevail more austerity cuts are coming. There is a remedy here in Scotland. We should seize it.

Catriona C Clark