Church of Scotland Moderator to meet Scottish politicians on poverty

The Rt Rev Sheilagh Kesting, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, will begin the traditional annual visit to the Scottish Parliament on Tuesday.

During her visit to the Scottish Parliament, Rev Kesting will meet with the leaders of the main political parties in Scotland, including First Minister Alex Salmond, leader of the Scottish Conservatives, Annabel Goldie, Co-Convenor of the Scottish Green Party, Robin Harper, Labour leader in the Scottish Parliament, Wendy Alexander, and leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats, Nicol Stephen.

Their discussions will touch on a variety of issues but particularly poverty and homelessness in Scotland and on an international level.

The Moderator will also attend the parliamentary debate on the Scottish Government's anti-poverty strategy on Thursday afternoon.

On Tuesday afternoon, she will discuss the work of the Church in the most deprived areas of Scotland with the Parliament's Local Government & Communities Committee on Tuesday.

These issues will also be highlighted in Time For Reflection when Rev Kesting addresses the whole of the Scottish Parliament in what is an eagerly awaited annual event.