SNP Comment on Osborne Speech
Tuesday 2 April 2013
Commenting on George Osborne’s Welfare Reform speech, SNP Work and Pensions Spokesperson Dr Eilidh Whiteford MP said:
“The Chancellor’s speech today had the right-wing rhetoric, but George Osborne fails to grasp the realities of his welfare reform. Our poorest and most disadvantaged are bearing the brunt of the Tory/Lib Dem coalition’s austerity measures.
“As the Bedroom Tax comes into force, 105,000 households across Scotland will lose an average of £600 a year. Working age benefits rises will be cut in real terms for the next three years, which will reduce the total income of Scottish households by around £210 million by 2014-15. Child benefit is frozen for the third year in a row, and Scotland’s council tax budget will be cut by 10% - a cut which the Scottish Government and Cosla are making good from their limited resources.
“We need a welfare system which reflects Scotland’s values, helps working families and protects our most disadvantaged people. A fairer welfare system for Scotland can only be achieved with a Yes vote in 2014. We need our welfare policies to be decided in the Scottish Parliament rather than Westminster, where our MPs have little ability to prevent such damaging measures.”
“As the Bedroom Tax comes into force, 105,000 households across Scotland will lose an average of £600 a year. Working age benefits rises will be cut in real terms for the next three years, which will reduce the total income of Scottish households by around £210 million by 2014-15. Child benefit is frozen for the third year in a row, and Scotland’s council tax budget will be cut by 10% - a cut which the Scottish Government and Cosla are making good from their limited resources.
“We need a welfare system which reflects Scotland’s values, helps working families and protects our most disadvantaged people. A fairer welfare system for Scotland can only be achieved with a Yes vote in 2014. We need our welfare policies to be decided in the Scottish Parliament rather than Westminster, where our MPs have little ability to prevent such damaging measures.”
