Different views of poverty and welfare services
Individualist views of poverty and welfare services
Since 2010, the Conservative Party has been the UK government at Westminster. As a right-wing party the traditional conservative approach is that taxes should remain low and that people should be encouraged to provide for themselves instead of relying on the welfare state.
The conservative view is that individuals should, as far as possible, make their own welfare provision. Anyone of working-age should, as far as possible, look to undertake work and this explains why many benefits are linked to those without work actively looking for work.
Collectivist view of poverty and welfare services
In Scotland, the Scottish National Party (SNP) have been in power in Holyrood in Edinburgh since 2007. As a left-wing party, they are generally more in favour of collectivist approaches i.e government providing greater support to people through the welfare state. In 2016, the Scottish Parliament gained legislative (law-making) powers in the area of social security. Subsequently, the SNP used these powers to increase welfare support for people, for example the Scottish Child Payment.