Universal Credit scheme blasted again
Mechanic Dylan Nesbitt, 19, of Montalto Avenue, was convicted of the rape at the High Court in Glasgow.
His victim, 23, was a stranger to him when he raped her as she slept after a 21st birthday party in Newarthill on May 20, 2017.
Judge Lord Mulholland told him: “You were found guilty by a jury of raping a A Shotts MP believes a controversial new benefit scheme is causing misery for millions of people.
After raising the issue twice in two days in the House of Commons Neil Gray, SNP Spokesperson for Social Justice, used a debate on Universal Credit to detail the supposed failings that have arisen since its conception.
He called for cross party pressure to be put on the Chancellor ahead of the Budget.
Mr Gray said: “Universal Credit is causing misery for millions of people.
“For many people on Universal Credit, incomes will fall by £2400 a year, or £50 per week. The Secretary of State for the Department for Work & Pensions, Esther Mcvey, conceded this point only last week but has so far failed to take any action.”
Earlier this month, The Wishaw Press reported a huge increase in the amount of people using foodbanks since the introduction of the new benefit system.
Basics Foodbank North Lanarkshire has dished out an extra tonne of food to desperate families over the last year alone.
And charity boss David Shaw believes the introduction of the Universal Credit system is partly to blame for the surge in users.
He said: “This is a tragic reflection of where we are at today.
“The last four months have seen an increase compared with the same period 12 months ago.
“The indications that it was going to get very, very busy as a result of Universal Credit has not been without foundation.
“This system seems to be having a massive effect on families.”
Mr Gray claims The SNP Scottish government has already spent £400 million in mitigating some of the cuts to social security and is using the limited powers it has to make some changes to move Universal Credit in a more positive direction in Scotland.
He added: “At the budget the Chancellor must start by investing to lift the benefit freeze, restore work allowances, scrap the two-child limit policy, lift the application waiting time, reduce the clawback from advances and restore ESA WRAC and disability of components. In the meantime, the UK government must release its own analysis on the roll-out of Universal Credit, which will only prove what many have been saying, and halt the roll-out of Universal Credit until a fundamental review is carried out.”