Shameful young parent penalty

THE policies of recent Tory governments have been shameful.

Wealthy David Cameron used his time in office to try to balance the books on the backs of the poor.

His government froze benefits, imposed the bedroom tax and did untold damage to the lives of the needy.

His ministers also demonised claimants as scroungers and pitted them against the working poor.

The latest example is Boris Johnson’s government’s pathetic justification for lower benefits for the under-25s.

Campaigners and opposition MPs have rightly warned ministers that a two-tier system is unfair. Younger parents have the same costs but are penalised under the Universal Credit system.

Welfare Delivery Minister Will Quince responded by saying younger people are more likely to live in “someone else’s household”.

He also claimed under-25s have “lower earnings expectations” and the policy was intended to maintain work incentives. This guff is patronising and offensive. A 2018 study shows most young parents live independently from their mums and dads and it unclear what “lower earnings expectations” means.

No wonder Satwat Rehman, CEO of One Parent Families Scotland, responded by saying this “woefully misunderstands” the reality of young parents’ lives.

This appalling Johnson government clearly has no wish to help young people struggling to raise their families.

He should ditch the young parent penalty and give vulnerable families the help they need.

Social security claimants need dignity and respect and this should start by axing discriminatory policies based on age.