Humza Yousaf has said SNP policies, such as the pledge to expand paid-for childcare provision to even more families across Scotland, ensures his party should be the “first choice for families” in the up-coming Rutherglen and Hamilton West by-election.
Ahead of a visit to a local nursery alongside the SNP Leader, local candidate, Katy Loudon, pledged to always stand up for families in Scotland in the face of “regressive” Westminster policies.
In government, the SNP has introduced policies such as 1140 hours of paid-for childcare for all three and four year olds, the Baby Box, free school meals for children in primary one to five and the Scottish Child Payment which has lifted 90,000 children out of poverty.
Earlier this month, Humza Yousaf announced his Government would go further and provide free school meals for all children in primary six and seven, and expand access to childcare from nine months to the end of primary school in specific communities.
Meanwhile, Keir Starmer has promised a Labour government at Westminster will retain cruel Westminster policies such as the two-child cap and rape clause that have pushed up to 20,000 children in Scotland into poverty.
In contrast, Katy Loudon has committed to introduce a Private Members Bill to scrap the two-child cap and rape clause – which affects 1,620 children in Rutherglen and Hamilton West – within her first 100 days as MP.
Speaking ahead of the visit, SNP Leader Humza Yousaf said:
“It’s clear that families across Scotland are being hammered by a Westminster cost of living crisis – whereas the SNP’s expansion of paid-for childcare has saved families thousands of pounds a year and our game-changing Scottish Child Payment has helped lift an estimated 90,000 children in Scotland out of poverty.
“In contrast to the SNP’s strong track record, regressive UK Government policies like the two-child cap and abhorrent rape clause are pushing thousands of families in Scotland further into poverty.
“Labour is choosing to support these cruel Tory policies while many families struggle to get by during a cost-of-living crisis of Westminster’s making.
“It’s clear that our policies to support young families are making a real difference.
“On October 5th, the SNP should be the first choice for families to ensure we can push Westminster on policies which help to give every child the best start in life.”
Local candidate, Katy Loudon, said:
“As a former primary school teacher, I’ve seen first-hand the difference high-quality education can make in a child’s early years.
“Every child deserves the best start in life and parents should get the support they need to feed and clothe their families.
“But in Rutherglen and Hamilton West, voters can clearly see a tale of two parties.
“The SNP wants Scotland to be the best place in the world to grow up while the Labour party is happy to sit by and watch local families suffer.
“My commitment to move to scrap the two child cap and rape clause within my first 100 days as MP will go some of the way to building a fairer Scotland for our youngest Scots.”
