JOHN Swinney has said the SNP is “swimming against a tide of rising poverty” caused in Westminster – as Scottish Labour were accused of taking a vow of silence after their UK bosses unleashed fresh benefit cuts for disabled people.
Speaking at First Minister’s Questions on Thursday, a more sombre affair as visibly emotional MSPs paid tribute to former minister Christina McKelvie after her death aged 57, the SNP’s Kenneth Gibson took aim at Labour over spending cuts announced in the Spring Statement.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves on Wednesday unveiled a raft of fresh disability benefit cuts, which the UK Government’s own analysis says will plunge 50,000 extra children into poverty.
Gibson (below) said Labour’s record in office so far, which has seen the party break promises to Waspi women, cut benefits, and oversee rising energy bills, meant it was “hardly surprising that long-standing Labour members have resigned”.
The finance committee convenor added: “Will the First Minister confirm that while Labour’s Holyrood branch meekly and embarrassingly chooses a policy of omerta in the face of UK Labour cuts, this SNP Government will always stand up for the most vulnerable people in our communities?”
The First Minister said that Scotland’s social security system was “dignity and respect” – but said that his mission to “eradicate” child poverty was being made more difficult by Westminster.
Swinney told MSPs: “I want to make sure that we put our focus into the necessary work to eradicate child poverty, that will become more challenging as a consequence Spring Statement because we are once again, as we found with the last Conservative government swimming against a tide of rising poverty levels as a consequence of UK Government decision-making.
“Our data in Scotland released today demonstrates that we are seeing reducing levels of child poverty in Scotland but that pattern will be challenged by the prevailing decisions that have been taken by the Spring Statement.”
