Dundee West Labour
21 November 2019
In an amendment put forward on today’s Scottish Labour proposed debate on the abolition of Universal Credit the Liberal Democrats re-affirmed their commitment to the maintenance of the policy and ruled out any moves to abolish it.
The amendment failed to be selected.
Labelling the roll out of Universal Credit “shambolic” Liberal Democrat MSP Liam McArthur stated his party would nevertheless continue to support the existence of the policy, citing extra funding from “stopping Brexit” as their solution to the huge socio-economic damage done to the poorest in our society by Universal Credit.
Earlier this week Scottish Liberal Democrat Leader Willie Rennie declared that the Bedroom Tax “should never have happened”. However, this statement of support for Universal Credit shows that the Liberal Democrats remain supportive of a policy that is indicative of Tory austerity and cuts.
Commenting on the Liberal Democrats support for Universal Credit, Scottish Labour Leader Richard Leonard said:
“Here we see the true nature of the Liberal Democrats. Instead of admitting, in the face of overwhelming evidence and heart-breaking testimony, that the policy of Universal Credit that they helped introduce has been a catastrophe, they continue to support it.
"A policy which forces people to choose between heating and eating is not inefficient - it is immoral and cruel.
"Scottish Labour know that this discredited and disastrous policy is beyond reform and must be scrapped.
“Clearly the Liberal Democrats have not changed their spots. It's all very well for Willie Rennie to cry crocodile tears over the years of Tory and Lib Dem cuts on Monday morning, when by Tuesday night he was pushing to maintain his party’s cruel legacy.
“Labour is the only party that can and will scrap Universal Credit - starting with immediate action to end the two-child cap, the rape clause and the punitive sanctions regime, and then replacing Universal Credit with a system of genuine and compassionate social security, not social punishment."
In an amendment put forward on today’s Scottish Labour proposed debate on the abolition of Universal Credit the Liberal Democrats re-affirmed their commitment to the maintenance of the policy and ruled out any moves to abolish it.
The amendment failed to be selected.
Labelling the roll out of Universal Credit “shambolic” Liberal Democrat MSP Liam McArthur stated his party would nevertheless continue to support the existence of the policy, citing extra funding from “stopping Brexit” as their solution to the huge socio-economic damage done to the poorest in our society by Universal Credit.
Earlier this week Scottish Liberal Democrat Leader Willie Rennie declared that the Bedroom Tax “should never have happened”. However, this statement of support for Universal Credit shows that the Liberal Democrats remain supportive of a policy that is indicative of Tory austerity and cuts.
Commenting on the Liberal Democrats support for Universal Credit, Scottish Labour Leader Richard Leonard said:
“Here we see the true nature of the Liberal Democrats. Instead of admitting, in the face of overwhelming evidence and heart-breaking testimony, that the policy of Universal Credit that they helped introduce has been a catastrophe, they continue to support it.
"A policy which forces people to choose between heating and eating is not inefficient - it is immoral and cruel.
"Scottish Labour know that this discredited and disastrous policy is beyond reform and must be scrapped.
“Clearly the Liberal Democrats have not changed their spots. It's all very well for Willie Rennie to cry crocodile tears over the years of Tory and Lib Dem cuts on Monday morning, when by Tuesday night he was pushing to maintain his party’s cruel legacy.
“Labour is the only party that can and will scrap Universal Credit - starting with immediate action to end the two-child cap, the rape clause and the punitive sanctions regime, and then replacing Universal Credit with a system of genuine and compassionate social security, not social punishment."