SCOTTISH Labour MSPs have come under fire for not backing a motion calling out the UK Government’s approach to child poverty.
SNP MSP Bob Doris lodged a motion in the Scottish Parliament entitled “Tackling Child Poverty” which called out harmful Tory policies such as the two-child limit and benefit cap.
The motion - debated on Tuesday evening - insisted the two-child cap causes “disproportionate harm” to low-income families and women survivors of domestic abuse or sexual assault, and called on the UK Government to introduce an equivalent to the Scottish Child Payment.
But Doris has called out Labour MSPs after none of them offered their support, despite the likes of Monica Lennon and Mercedes Villalba previously condemning leader Keir Starmer’s U-turn on ditching the two-child cap.
He said on Twitter/X: “Incredibly disappointing no Labour Party MSP signed my motion (debated this evening) condemning the UK Conservative Government benefit cap, two-child limit and associated rape clause.
“It has impacted on almost 4000 children in Glasgow and pushed 20,000 across Scotland into poverty.”
Incredibly disappointing no Labour Party MSP signed my motion (debated this evening) condemning the UK Conservative Government benefit cap, two-child limit & associated rape clause. It has impacted on almost 4,000 children in Glasgow & pushed 20,000 across Scotland.into poverty. https://t.co/8U2Yo1Wxy4 pic.twitter.com/VkDLoSTbHW
— Bob Doris (@BobDorisSNP) September 12, 2023
Starmer originally vowed to scrap the two-child limit but faced a major backlash from within his own party a few months ago when he announced it would no longer part of Labour’s plans if they were to win the General Election next year.
Lennon even urged members to make Starmer change his mind on the matter insisting it was the “wrong position” to keep the cap.
Villalba highlighted that Starmer was elected on a pledge to get rid of the two-child cap, adding that ditching it was what the country needed.
The Labour leader has also been called out for U-turning on introducing a wealth tax in recent weeks and ruling out free school meals for all children in England.
