SWC Statement on the 2025-2026 Programme for Government
We welcome pledges to eradicate child poverty and improve public services but are concerned that women and girls’ priorities have not been included in the proposed legislative programme.
On the 6th of May 2025, the Scottish Government released their Programme for Government for 2025-2026, outlining their focus and aims for the coming year. Entitled ‘Building the Best Future for Scotland’, the Scottish Government have chosen four key areas to focus progress: the economy, eradicating child poverty, tackling the climate emergency, and improving public services.
At the SWC, we are encouraged to note the continued emphasis on eradicating child poverty, with current levels of poverty affecting the lives of many across Scotland. In particular, commitments to expand free school meal and breakfast clubs will positively impact Scottish families, as will proposed improvements to public transport links and a focus on housebuilding. We also commend the Scottish Government’s emphasis on women’s equality with regards to anti-poverty measures.
Through SWC work, we know that women’s poverty is intrinsically linked to children’s poverty, as a result of the misogyny they face throughout their lives.
Misogyny has been present throughout Scottish society for generations, however through new technologies and changes in global politics it has become an increasingly pressing issue. For this reason, we are disappointed to note the removal of the Misogyny Law within the Scottish Government’s 2025-2026 Programme for Government. In 2023, the SWC investigated the issue of misogyny in great detail, concluding that a wide-scale societal response was required to effectively reduce harassment and abuse faced by women and girls.
Moreover, women are telling the SWC that their health issues remain unresolved. As a result of Roadshows across the country, we know that access to care is a key barrier to many women living happy and healthy lives. Through the Scottish Government’s clear focus on improved access within the legislative programme, we are hopeful that this will eradicate long wait times and improve care for many. Additionally, we are pleased to see the establishment of a Women’s Health Research Fund (WHRF). Women consistently complain of poor-quality care for a range of health conditions, and we will therefore monitor the development of the WHRF with great interest.
We must, however, emphasise our disappointment at the lack of proper consideration given to Scottish social care within the Programme for Government 2025-2026. Women make up the majority of social care workers and service-users and have called for significant reform as a result of years of underfunding. While we acknowledge commitments made to establish a National Care Service Advisory Board, previous promises surrounding this subject will likely be treated with significant scepticism.
For generations, women and girls have continued to supplement publicly provided services to ensure their families are cared for and protected. Yet, to quote one SWC roundtable contributor: “Who cares for the carers?”. Until significant change is made to further these aims, the SWC will continue to advocate and listen to women across the country.
As part of our vital work, we have collated the following survey, asking women to provide their priorities for 2025-2026. The opinions given will feed directly into our Women’s Priorities Report, which fully considers the Scottish Government’s Programme for Government for 2025-2026.
We urge women in Scotland to complete our survey, so we can accurately represent the range of views that exist across Scotland; women have the right to be heard and decision-makers have the responsibility to listen.
