Pete Wishart
SNP MP FOR PERTH & PERTHSHIRE NORTH Re-think needed on welfare cuts
The chair of an influential United Nations committee has described the Tory government’s welfare cuts as having created a“human catastrophe”for disabled people across the UK, after a two-day long UN committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities meeting with UK government officials last week.
The callous austerity measures imposed by the Tories since 2010 have had a devastating impact on communities across the UK – with the bulk of the cuts falling on the most vulnerable people in society.
The UN committee certainly didn’t mince their words, accusing the Tory government of“totally neglecting the vulnerable situation people with disabilities find themselves in.”
This criticism of UK government policy towards persons with disabilities is the latest embarrassment for the Tory government – as well as previous criticism from the same UN committee, we have seen UK judges ruling that flagship Tory policies such as the Bedroom Tax, Back to Work scheme and the Benefit Cap are illegal because of their impact on disabled people and single parents.
This criticism from the United Nations of the UK government’s welfare cuts shows yet again just how damaging Tory policies have been for vulnerable and disabled people across the UK.
I have certainly seen the impact on people contacting my office and coming to my surgeries and I have no doubt that every politician across the country has had to listen to heart-breaking stories about the impact that callous Tory cuts are causing to people and our communities – yet they have refused to act but instead continue to punish people in the cruellest manner.
The UN’s criticism should act as a wake-up call – but sadly we have been here before and the Tories simply do not listen. The UN could not be clearer – UK ministers’ record on welfare has caused a“human catastrophe”as they“totally neglect”the vulnerable situation of people with disabilities.
The Tories must urgently rethink their disastrous welfare cuts, which have driven people into poverty, caused an exponential rise in the use of foodbanks, and has now been condemned, yet again, by the United Nations.
The Scottish government has responded admirably, taking significant steps to mitigate the worst aspects of Westminster’s welfare reform. Indeed, since 2013, the Scottish government has spent over £100 million a year to protect people from the worst aspects of Tory welfare cuts. I dread to think how much worse the situation might have been were that not the case.
If the UK government is not prepared to change course, then they must give the Scottish government the full powers to make different choices and allow it to support rather than neglect the most vulnerable people in our society.
Finally, a few words of praise for my Scottish Parliament“oppo”– John Swinney has reached a significant milestone having spent twenty years as a parliamentarian representing Perthshire constituents. The local SNP had a great night celebrating this auspicious anniversary and I am sure that the readers of the Blairie would join me in congratulating and thanking John for all that he has done for this area over the last two decades.