Councillor slams Tories
A Stirling councillor this week welcomed reports that the Westminster Government was delaying the further roll out of Universal Credit following reports of hardship.
The new benefits system came into force here on June 28 last year and replaced six means-tested benefits including housing benefit, child tax credit, income support and jobseekers allowance.
It was introduced nationally by the Conservative Government at Westminster and has been heavily criticised because of delays in payments and the difficulties faced by many people in submitting online applications for the benefit.
Figures released by Stirling Council earlier this year showed a jump in the number of referrals to food banks.
Bannockburn SNP councillor Alasdair MacPherson said the decision to slow the roll-out had come too late for his constituents who have suffered severe hardship since it was introduced.
He told how staff at a charity dealing with the homeless had given him a first-hand account of the “profound impact” the benefit system was having.
He added:“There are stories in the newspapers throughout the UK every day of people taking their lives as a result of Universal Credit, so it is truly sickening to watch Stirling MP Stephen Kerr and local Tory councillors praising this draconian policy and appearing at local food banks for photoshoots grinning ear to ear.”
A spokesman for Mr Kerr said:“Disgraced SNP Councillor MacPherson, who was suspended from Stirling Council for bad behaviour, has a history of deflecting his own inadequacies by pursuing an attack on the benefit system.
“Given the current problems with planning at Stirling Council perhaps he should be more focused on his job as chair of planning panel for which he gets a significant pay bonus from the taxpayer.
“Benefit reform is essential and universal credit is working to help get people into work who have been left languishing on benefits for generations.”