The SNP has criticised comments made by a Labour source on scrapping the two-child cap, reported in the Scotsman this afternoon – saying the party is showing its true colours on child poverty.
The Labour comment makes no reference to the transformative effect that scrapping the two-child cap will have in Scotland, lifting 15,000 children out of poverty.
The source is quoted as saying “We’re not particularly fazed by it from an electoral point of view.
We know people are upset by that policy. Mostly, people that are bothered by it weren’t going to vote for us before this, so we don’t think it’s going to have a massive impact on voters.”
Commenting, SNP MSP Colette Stevenson said:
“If this is what the Labour hierarchy are saying behind the scenes, then it suggests that they are simply not interested in child poverty and are more interested in playing politics.
“Despite condemning the cap in the past, Labour appears to be showing their true colours today.
“Scrapping the two-child cap will lift 15,000 children out of poverty in Scotland – Labour say they want to end child poverty, so surely they will back this measure?
“We have listened to families across the country saying the cap is unacceptable and has to go – and we are taking action.
“But this will only happen if Parliament unites behind the Budget – and Labour must now show they are serious about ending child poverty.
“If Labour play politics and try to block scrapping the cap, people in Scotland will never forgive them.”
