'UK inaction on child poverty must not exonerate Swinney'
The Herald, joined by 23 of the country's leading charities, told Mr Swinney to take "decisive action" ahead of next week's programme for government.
It is almost a year since Mr Swinney entered Bute House, where he declared his central mission was to eradicate child poverty.
Legally binding targets aim to reduce relative child poverty to under 10% by 2030 - however interim targets of 18% were missed last year.
Charities have warned that without action, including increasing the Scottish Child Payment, the full targets will not be met.
Professor Stephen Sinclair, chair of the Poverty and Inequality Commission, said the Scottish Government was right to highlight the detrimental impact of the two-child benefit cap.
The policy, introduced by the Conservatives in 2017, and maintained by the current Labour government, restricts means-tested benefits such as Universal Credit to the first two children.
Abolishing that cap would lift an estimated 250,000 children out of poverty overnight.
The Scottish Government will abolish the benefit cap from 2026.
Professor Sinclair told The Herald: "The Scottish Government, as shown by the introduction of the Scottish Child Payment and its commitment to mitigate the two-child benefit limit, they do have the powers and they could find the resources to address child poverty irrespective of whatever the UK Government are doing.
'So while I am sympathetic to the argument that this is not helping, continuing this policy, it doesn't exonerate the Scottish Government from using its full powers in order to take the further steps that are necessary.
'And what it has done so far is positive. We are seeing a reduction in child poverty in Scotland while it is at best plateauing and increasing in other parts of the UK but it's not meeting the interim child poverty targets.
'So although good is being done, sadly, it's not good enough.
'Addressing the two-child limit, as the Scottish Government has committed to doing is an important step. But we need further steps of equal significance to the Scottish Child Payment in order to meet the legal, statutory targets that all parties have signed up to.'
Statistics published last month showed that child poverty in 2023-24 reduced from 26% to 22% in Scotland while absolute child poverty fell from 23% to 17%.
Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said: 'Eradicating child poverty is the Scottish Government's top priority and we are committed to meeting the 2030 target unanimously agreed by the Scottish Parliament.
'Our policies are having to work harder rather than ever to make a difference, against a backdrop of a continuing cost of living crisis, rising energy costs and UK Government decision making.
'On average, households with children in the poorest 10% of households are estimated to be £2,600 a year better off in 2025-26 as a result of Scottish Government policies, with this value projected to grow an average of £3,700 a year by 2029-30.
'We are committed to doing all that we can with the 2025-26 Scottish budget prioritising action to eradicate child poverty, including through investment in breakfast clubs, employability support and to develop the systems to mitigate the two-child limit.
'However, decisions taken by successive UK Governments are holding us back, and the Department for Work and Pensions' own figures show that proposed welfare cuts will drive 50,000 more children into poverty.'
The Scottish Government will publish its third child poverty action plan by the end of March 2026, setting out the plans to meet the 2030 targets.
Ms Somerville added: "I urge the UK Government to match the ambition and investment of the Scottish Government and to work with us to help end child poverty."
A UK Government spokesperson said: 'No child should be in poverty - that's why our Ministerial Taskforce is exploring all levers available across government to give children across the United Kingdom the best start in life.
'As we fix the foundations of the economy to make everyone better off, our Get Britain Working plan and the landmark Employment Rights Bill will help people find and maintain better paid and more secure jobs with stronger rights. We have increased the National Living Wage and are capping how much Universal Credit can be taken for debt repayments to put more money in people's pockets and help families build a brighter future.
'Both of Scotland's governments must work together to help more people into work, while always supporting those who cannot.'
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