Human catastrophe
Tories slated in Holyrood over welfare cuts that hammer most vulnerable
CRUEL Tory welfare reforms were blasted at Holyrood yesterday for creating a “human catastrophe”.
A United Nations committee had already used the damning phrase to describe how disabled people are suffering under austerity.
And MSPs warned that thousands of other vulnerable Scots were suffering too.
Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson was put under pressure as MSPs rounded on her party for rushing out the new universal credit benefits for those who are on low income or are out of work.
Labour’s acting leader Alex Rowley said: “The reality of universal credit risks leaving many people without the support they need, pushing them into debt and leaving them unable to make ends meet.”
Citizens Advice have seen a 15 per cent rise in problems with rent arrears in areas where universal credit is already in operation. The Tories were also slammed for lowering the benefits cap. Analysis by the Green Party suggests that since the cap was lowered to £20,000 a year in November, there has been a massive 434 per cent rise in affected households in Scotland.
It’s thought 90 per cent of those households have at least one child, leading to fears the cap has an impact on around 11,200 youngsters.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said the UN committee attack on the benefit changes “shines a light on the inhumanity of the welfare policies of the Conservative Government at Westminster”.
She added: “Members of that Government should hang their heads in shame day in and day out because of the misery that they are inflicting on vulnerable people the length and breadth of this country.”
John McArdle, of Black Triangle, who campaign against what they say is an attack on the human rights of disabled people, welcomed Sturgeon’s comments.
He said Labour should push harder against the Tories at Westminster.
John added: “We feel forgotten as disabled people.
“There is always something else more important. It has just been a blip on the radar and it is all forgotten.”
Tory MSP Jeremy Balfour defended the UK reforms.
He said universal credit replaces a complicated system.
Balfour added: “The best way to improve people’s lives is to get them into work, to give them a purpose and to allow them to earn money. Universal credit allows that to happen.”