Hundreds join protest against ‘rape clause’
HUNDREDS of protesters gathered in George Square to campaign against the Government’s so-called rape clause.
Women and men from across the country congregated at 6pm in the city centre to protest against the “cruel” policy.
Introduced this month, the rule means women who have a third child as a result of rape will have to prove their circumstances to be eligible for tax credits for the child.
The Tory government decided to introduce a cap on the number of children eligible for tax credits, which came in to force on April 6.
Only two children are eligible, unless the third child is a result of rape.
One of the protest organisers, Ceris Aston, said the event had been organised to stand up against the tax credits cap which had been “pushed quietly through government”.
She said: “It is so important that we stand against the horrific family cap and rape clause.
“It has been pushed quietly through government without debate or scrutiny but we will not be quiet when it comes to human rights.
“Life is unpredictable and noone knows what is around the corner, and when any one of us might need a safety net.
“We cannot let welfare be eroded – it’s on all of us to fight this.”
Glasgow MP Allison Thewliss has campaigned against the issue, which has been dubbed the ‘rape clause’ since it was suggested in 2016.
The Glasgow Central SNP MP was the key speaker at last night’s rally. She said: “The fact that women have to demonstrate in George Square in 2017 against such a barbaric and vile policy is bad enough. What’s worse is the wall of silence these women are being faced with.
“Ruth Davidson and Theresa May cannot hide behind that wall of silence much longer. We are not giving up and we will fight this appalling policy every step of the way. We will not rest until our voices are heard and these anti-women policies are consigned to history.”
The event came just hours after Ruth Davidson, leader of the Scottish Tory party, backed the rape clause and said if Nicola Sturgeon didn’t like it she could scrap it in Scotland.
Ms Davidson said she supports the cap and challenged the SNP to set up a new benefit in Scotland if they don’t like it.
The Conservative leader said: “We support the exemptions which the UK Government has put in place on restrictions to child tax credits, and we want to see the UK Government implement them in the most compassionate way possible.”