A SHOCKING new report has revealed that a quarter of all children in Inverclyde are living in poverty.

The figures, released by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, have been described as 'appalling' by an MSP whose constituency takes in the district. 

Labour's Katy Clark, who represents the West Scotland, says that the fact that 24 per cent of children in Inverclyde are deprived is a 'wake-up call' for everyone.

Ms Clark says that the annual data released must now concentrate minds within the Scottish and UK government's regarding the issue.

She said: "The scale of child poverty in this country, including here in Inverclyde, is appalling. 

"The number one priority for any government should to alleviate the hardship of its most vulnerable citizens, so these figures point to immense failure on the part of those in power.

“Initiatives such as the Scottish Child Payment are welcome, but they only serve to mitigate the social harm caused by years of Tory austerity.

"On top of that, the Scottish Government has underfunded key public services, slashed housing budgets and failed to explore the scope for redistributive taxation of wealth and land."

The figures show that 24.3 per cent of children in Inverclyde are living in poverty, and Inverclyde Council is 12th in the league table of local authorities in Scotland.

This is the same level as the Scottish national average which also sits at 24 per cent.

The report revealed that children in Glasgow were more likely to suffer from poverty than anywhere else in Scotland, at 32 per cent.

Other other local authorities such as North Ayrshire and West Dunbartonshire, at 28 and 27 per cent were also identified as hotspots.

Ms Clark said: "These figures must be another wake-up call that the present system is broken.

"We have the means to end child poverty, but we need the political will.”