The SNP has demanded the UK government finally scrap the cruel two-child cap – introduced by the Tories in April 2017 – as families continue to struggle to make ends meet amidst the Tory made cost-of-living crisis.
The SNP’s Work and Pensions spokesperson, Kirsty Blackman MP, said the Tory policy – the only one of its kind in the world – is exacerbating child poverty and undermining the Scottish Government’s efforts to end it in Scotland for good.
Research published on the five-year anniversary of the policy revealed it has not achieved its aim of discouraging poorer families from having children, it has only made families poorer.
The research follows a “disgraceful” Spring Statement from the Chancellor, which failed to deliver any policies that will financially support those who are being hit hardest by the Tory cost of living crisis – a fact many anti-poverty charities condemned.
To tackle child poverty, the Scottish Government introduced the Scottish Child Payment – the first of its kind in the UK – which is now being doubled.
The SNP Government has also brought in another 6 brand new benefits, and uprated eight benefits by 6%.
SNP Work and Pensions spokesperson, Kirsty Blackman MP said:
“The UK Tory government is the only government in the world that caps benefits after the second child – that speaks volumes.
“And we know the policy is now just futile and cruel given it has not achieved its misguided aim of discouraging poorer families from having children.
“The policy, which has been around for five years longer than it should have, must go.
“It is exacerbating child poverty and undermining our efforts in Scotland to tackle it – and it has no place in modern society.
“The Scottish Government is listening to the experts and doing what it can to put money in people’s pockets in Scotland and tackle poverty, but the UK government is taking it away again by continuing with this cruel policy and refusing to heed widespread calls to bring in policies that will make a difference to struggling families.
“The SNP Scottish Government, using its limited powers and budget set by Westminster, has brought in 7 brand new benefits, including the Scottish Child Payment, which they are more than doubling to £25 per child per week, and committed to uprating eight benefits by 6%.
“And it has done all of this whilst spending almost £600 million on mitigating bad policies from Westminster, such as the bedroom tax.
“For years now Westminster and its nasty policies have consistently undermined Scotland’s efforts – not just in tackling poverty but on tackling the climate crisis too.
“And we were dragged out of the EU against our will.
“To do more and to go further to help the people that live here and protect them from the Tories at Westminster, Scotland needs the full powers of independence.”
