Holyrood Magazine issue 394 / 18 December 2017

Poverty and inequality special issue: including an interview Mhairi Black MP, features on the welfare state, homelessness and obesity, and a look at how the Child Poverty Bill has affected Kirsty, the Holyrood Baby, at 18 months. Plus Holyrood speaks to Scotland’s party leaders in an attempt to learn the true meaning of Christmas...

3 Editor’s note

Following years of austerity and social security cuts coinciding with frozen wages and rising costs, we are watching hard-won progress slipping away

6 Roundup

Pictures and numbers from the past two weeks

7 Talking Point

This was the year we faced up to the true extent of sexual harassment in society

9 Digital Highlights

The best of Twitter and Holyrood’s online content

10 Political Spotlight

Derek Mackay’s budget marks the start of a new era for the parliament

12 Cover Story: Mhairi Black

The youngest MP in 300 years on her troubled relationship with Westminster

21 Overview: Poverty

The safety net provided by the welfare state is full of holes, at a time when more and more people are in economic freefall

25 Focus: Housing

Incredibly, homelessness is still an issue in Scotland in the 21st century

28 Special Feature: Obesity

The link between obesity and preventable cancers has a particular impact on those in more deprived areas

30 Holyrood Baby: 18 Months

Can the Child Poverty Bill make a difference for Kirsty?

34 Getting to Know Christmas

Holyrood speaks to Scotland’s party leaders in an attempt to learn the true meaning of Christmas

42 Event Report

The winners of this year’s Scottish Public Service Awards

46 Comment

Dani Garavelli takes a nuanced view on decriminalising sex work

48 Diary

MPs on the up, a secret weakness and Paddington bares all

49 Pets

Councillor Lynsey Hamilton introduces Charlie

50 Last Word

Sketch: Brexit Secretary David Davis seems to be unaware that you can read UK media outside of the UK

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