Scotland is on a mission to eradicate child poverty.

First minister John Swinney told the Big Issue last year that it was at the heart of his government’s agenda, and it continues to shape policy today.

Swinney pledged to end the two-child limit on benefits in Scotland from March 2026 if Westminster refuses to do so, and the Scottish government already mitigates the benefit cap so that families do not face a restriction on their financial support.

But Scotland needs Westminster’s backing to achieve truly tackle child poverty.

Big Issue sat down with Scotland’s social justice secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville ahead of the chancellor’s autumn budget as she called on the UK government to take greater action.

The social justice secretary title is unique to Scotland, but Somerville

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