An overwhelming vote backing the scrapping of planned cuts to Universal Credit which could plunge thousands of Renfrewshire families into poverty has been praised by the areas politicians.
The Scottish Parliament has voted overwhelmingly to support cancelling the Tory UK Government’s planned £20 cut to Universal Credit next month - a move that would see more than 17,000 families in Renfrewshire and East Renfrewshire lose more than £1,000 a year.
Hundreds of anti-poverty campaigners in the local authority - including Renfrewshire Citizen’s Advice Beaureu and Renfrewshire Foodbank have spoken out on the impact removing the lifeline would have on the most vulnerable in the community.
As well as facing criticism in Scotland, the UK Government planned cut has also faced opposition from Conservative MPs in Westminster - including former Scottish Tory leader, Ruth Davidson and six former Tory DWP Secretaries of State.
However, during the vote in Holyrood on Monday, only Scottish Conservatives voted against it.
The motion in Parliament slammed the UK Government approach to welfare as “uncompassionate.”
It stated that while “the reduction of universal credit could reduce welfare expenditure in Scotland by £461million a year by 2023-24, it would “push 60,000 people, including 20,000 children, into poverty.”
It also stated that “the inadequacy of the payment is just one of many issues with universal credit, alongside the two-child cap and the abhorrent so-called ‘rape clause’, the five-week wait for a first payment, the benefit sanctions regime and the so-called ‘bedroom tax’.”
The motion passed by 88 votes to 28 with no abstentions, with only the Scottish Tories voting against it.
In response to this, Scottish Conservatives filed an to this, which said the six-month extension of the temporary £20 per week uplift during the height of the pandemic was welcomed, but “with the removal of most restrictions, this is the right time for the uplift to be reviewed.”
This was defeated with 28 for from Scottish Conservatives, and 88 against across all other parties.
The decision was welcomed by Renfrewshire’s MSPs, who all voted against the cuts and criticised the move by the Tory MSPs.
MSP Tom Arthur for Renfrewshire South said:“The Scottish Parliament overwhelmingly spoke and demanded the Tory UK Government halts their plans to scrap the uplift to Universal Credit.
“Sadly, we also witnessed every single Tory MSP failing to stand up to their Westminster bosses in opposing the £20 a week cut – the biggest welfare cut since the 1930s.
“I was proud to stand up for the 13.372 households across Renfrewshire and send a strong message to the Tories at Westminster that we reject its plans to rip more than £1,000 a year out of the hands of the most vulnerable at a time when they need it most.
“I am quite frankly shocked, but not surprised, that the Scottish Tory MSPs not only voted to back the Universal Credit cut which will condemn thousands of families to poverty, but actively defended it.
Natalie Don MSP for Renfrewshire North and West added: “A strong message has been sent to the Tories at Westminster that the Scottish Parliament rejects its plans to cut Universal Credit from the most vulnerable at a time when they need it most.
“Scottish Tory MSPs have let down thousands by supporting this callous cut to support and by propping up a Tory UK Government that imposes these policies on the people of Scotland.
“Many households in Renfrewshire and across Scotland are facing an incredible squeeze on their incomes this winter as energy bills skyrocket, food bills increase, and thousands face the prospect of having their Universal Credit cut.
“This will inevitably lead to people having to make the choice between heating their home or feeding their children.”
Green MSP Ross Greer added: “The £20 uplift was not an act of benevolence but an admission of failure - an admission that the system had been so damaged by cuts that it was no longer able to perform its basic function: to provide adequate support for people needing help with their incomes for reasons beyond their control.
“The cut is symbolic of a UK government that knows the price of some things but the value of nothing and shows why Scotland needs to chart a different path.”
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