Scotland is “far off track” in the race to meet its targets to reduce child poverty, campaigners have warned.

SNP ministers are working towards a commitment that by 2023 just 18% of children should be in relative poverty, with that figure to fall below 10% by 2030.

But research published in June has suggested the child poverty rate in Scotland has actually increased and now stands at around 26%.

And there are fears the UK Government’s decision to slash Universal Credit could make the situation even worse.

The Poverty Alliance – which brings together campaigners from across the country – has today written to the leaders of Scotland’s five big political parties calling on them to recommit themselves

The letter said: “We are currently far off track to meet the first set of interim child poverty targets.