Call on Tories to oppose the ‘rape clause’ after furore

Shotts MSP Alex Neil called on the Scottish Conservative Party to stop acting as a mouthpiece for the UK Government and oppose the shocking“rape clause.”

The family cap limits tax credits to only two children per family – unless the mother can prove that a third child was conceived as a result of rape or during an abusive relationship.

Many sexual violence support charities such as Rape Crisis Scotland and Scottish Women’s Aid have said they will refuse to act as third party verifiers for the UK government.

The SNP MSP put his name to a recent Holyrood motion submitted by Christina McKelvie MSP which condemns the comments made by Ruth Davidson which appear to support the “rape clause”.

Mr Neil said:“The Tory policy that has become known as the“rape clause”, requiring women to disclose deeply personal information and prove that a third or subsequent child was conceived as a result of rape in order to claim tax credits is disgraceful.

“Ruth Davidson and the Scottish Tories should be thoroughly ashamed of their party but instead they are defending the indefensible welfare cuts from Westminster.

“The two child policy will mean a loss of up to £2800 every year per child for hardworking families – driving up child poverty after the UK Government scrapped their child poverty targets.”

Central Scotland Conservative MSP Graham Simpson said:“Women who fall pregnant as a result of rape should get the support they need from the Government.

“I do appreciate this is a very sensitive issue, and should be treated as such for the victims of this horrific crime. Women will not be forced to either report their rape as a crime or report it directly to HMRC. Instead they will be entitled to the exemption by disclosing their experience to a relevant third party.”