8 April 2019

Responding to research from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation that families living in poverty will be left £560 worse off on average over the next year due to the benefits freeze, Scottish Labour social security spokesperson Mark Griffin said:

“The benefits freeze is the single biggest cause of rising poverty, yet the Tories are continuing to press on with this austerity policy for the fourth year.

“While this freeze hits the pockets of the poorest, the Tories and the SNP have handed tax cuts to people on incomes up to £124,375. That is simply unacceptable.

“The SNP government has repeatedly voted against Scottish Labour’s proposals for a £5 increase to Child Benefit, promising an income supplement by 2022 instead. These figures show families cannot wait that long.

“In government, Labour will end the benefit freeze and the two-child cap to make tackling child poverty the priority it should be once again.”



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