​Veteran anti-poverty campaigner tells friends and family has has Motor Neurone Disease

One of the country’s leading anti-poverty campaigners has revealed he only has a year to live.

Bob Holman, who left a life in England to set up a community project in Easterhouse, has told friends and family he has been diagnosed with the incurable illness motor neurone disease (MND).

A former social worker, Holman helped create Family Action in Rogerton and Easterhouse (Fare) which this year celebrated its 25th anniversary.

The community activist, now in his late 70s, has spent 40 years living in deprived areas fighting poverty and said he isn't afraid of death.

I am thankful that I have lived a long life with years spent in community activities

Bob Holman

"MND is degenerative, progressive and life-shortening. I have been told I have about a year to live," he said.

"Of course I am upset but I am a Christian and I am thankful that I have lived a long life with years spent in community activities. Not least, I am with a wonderful family."

Holman, who has written various books, had been diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma in 2010 though the illness had been in remission.

He was the driving force behind Iain Duncan Smith's notorious visit to Easterhouse in 2002, a move Holman said was made to show those in power what real poverty – and effective community regeneration – was all about.

In an interview last year, the veteran campaigner backed Scottish independence as the only chance to realistically tackle poverty.

“I believe the only possibility of greater equality and a real attack on poverty will come if Scotland is independent,” he said.

“The Scottish Labour party will become more radical because it will have to compete with the SNP.”