Weir claims impact of Tory ‘rape clause’ will be worse than people think

The impact of the two child tax credit policy and so-called rape clause will be far wider spread than the Conservative Party realises, Mike Weir has claimed.

The SNP candidate for Angus hit out at the Tories for their “thoughtless” policies on the benefits system – including the third child rule on child tax credits.

He insists the controversial system, which means victims of rape have to fill in an exemption clause document to prove a third child was conceived through the heinous crime, will also hit working people who fall ill or are made redundant.

Mr Weir said: “The Conservatives really haven’t thought through their policy on child tax credits at all. “This is the ugly face of their policies. “It’s well documented that most caring people believe it’s an abhorrent policy to make rape victims fill in an eight-page document to prove the exemption for child tax credits on a third child.

“This is something that surely no one can really justify and at the hustings on Wednesday the Conservative candidate Kirstene Hair struggled badly to outline her position on the issue.

“Deep down she must know it’s wrong but toes the party-line to support it.

“But it is worse than that – the Tories are not thinking about working people who have three or more children and suddenly fall on hard times.”

Ms Hair was put under pressure about the policy at Courier hustings.

Mr Weir also insisted pensioners will suffer under Conservative plans to replace the triple-lock guarantee on pensions with a double lock.

Mike Weir.