TWICE McVILE’S BACK AND SHE’S.. AS NASTY
Callous Tory benefits chief tells Parly: Rape clause gives mums TWO reasons to feel grateful
TORY benefits axe-woman Esther McVey yesterday insisted the rape clause is a double boost for women.
Callous McVey said: “They’re getting the money they need and an opportunity to talk about something that’s happened.”
TORY benefits axewoman Esther McVey sparked fury yesterday after claiming the rape clause gives women a double opportunity for support.
McVey defended the policy, linked to the child tax credit cap, in front of astonished MSPs and welfare campaigners.
The UK Work and Pensions Secretary was heckled from the public benches during yesterday’s ill-tempered meeting of Holyrood’s social security committee.
Police were twice asked to lead some protesters out of the building while the hearing was suspended.
Under the clause, women who conceive through rape must reveal their ordeal to avoid the two-child limit on tax credits.
Asked to justify the policy, McVey said: “People will be supported and shown to the various other organisations – and again this could give them an opportunity to talk about maybe something that’s happened that they never had before.
“So, it’s potentially double support there – they’re getting the money they need and maybe an outlet they might possibly need.”
Women have to speak to a third-party assessor to access financial support. Groups including Rape Crisis Scotland have vowed to boycott the process. But McVey refused to accept criticism. She said: “We’re providing extra help where people have got more children that they couldn’t have planned.
“There will be no invasive or delving questions asked. They will speak to people, they’ve obviously come forward with this reason, and for this extra support, and it will be done in the most sensitive manner.
“It is in light of providing extra financial support that they seek.”
Her comments were condemned last night. Marion Nisbet, secretary of Disabled People Against the Cuts Glasgow, was in the public gallery and was escorted out by police.
She said: “I’m not often speechless but for her to think that some women are going to be assisted by being put through that horrendous system ...
“The truth of the matter is that there’s a lot of women in relationships who are abused who are so frightened of their abuser that they will not speak out.
“For her to sit in there and say that basically getting your money taken off you is doing you a favour is just vile.”
Nisbet said she was a rape survivor but had never reported her ordeal to police.
She added: “The main reason women don’t report these issues is because … they cannot bear to sit and relive the trauma.”
Sandy Brindley, of Rape Crisis Scotland, said: “Her comments display a complete lack of understanding of the trauma of rape.”
McVey was making a long-awaited appearance before MSPs to answer questions on UK Government welfare policy and devolution.
The rape clause exchanges came at the end of the 90-minute hearing, held in a specially arranged Monday sitting when Parliament is not normally in session. Most of the hearing was dominated by the Universal Credit, which brings together old benefits in a single payment. McVey insisted the reform was “fit for purpose” after the SNP’s Ben Macpherson demanded she apologise for cuts to people’s income. Her refusal to say sorry provoked anger in the public benches, leading the convener to suspend the meeting for the first of two times. An audience member shouted “you can’t get into work if you’re dead” at the Tory MP. And McVey heard claims a woman
had committed suicide after being sanctioned.
After a short break, McVey said: “I am not oblivious to people who are incredibly vulnerable or who are in need.”
She also rejected experts’ view that Universal Credit was pushing people deeper into poverty. McVey ruled out calls for automatic split payments, which some MSPs say will help domestic abuse victims.
Green party MSP Alison Johnstone said later: “Today’s session was simply the latest in which a Tory minister came to Holyrood and tried to defend the indefensible.”
Labour MSP Pauline McNeill, who sits on the committee, said: “To badge up the vile rape clause as some sort of virtuous policy to provide support is simply skin-crawling.” Nicola Sturgeon later said McVey had “added insult to injury”.
At the STUC annual congress, the First Minister added: “To me that illustrates how out of touch Esther McVey and the Tory Government are on these really sensitive issues.”
Campaigners will stage a protest against the rape clause on Thursday at The Mound in Edinburgh.
Alison Thewliss, an SNP MP who will speak at the demo, said: “Concessions have already been made in other areas and it would be good if the two-child cap were to follow as the next U-turn”.
Campaign organisers Scrap the Cap said the policy is unworkable.