Taking the high road? Media and public attitudes toward poverty in Scotland

In democracies, public support is an important prelude to government-led anti-poverty strategies. Furthermore, tackling poverty is less likely to be achieved by government acting unilaterally. This is recognised by the Scottish Government in its Discussion Paper on Tackling Poverty, Inequality and Deprivation in Scotland, which states: ‘We need the support of all sections of society if we are to succeed in introducing effective measures efforts to tackle poverty in Scotland’ (Scottish Government 2007, para. 56). Public support is also critical for sustaining commitment to tackle poverty. The Discussion Paper also solicits suggestions ‘on how best to communicate with the whole of Scottish society’ and ‘What kind of language should we use in order to communicate effectively on these issues?’.