The link between Universal Credit and soaring foodbank use has long been disputed by senior Tories at Westminster and Holyrood – but the Work and Pensions Secretary has finally admitted that the policy, which has been plagued with delays, has led to widespread poverty.
Amber Rudd yesterday admitted that: “It is absolutely clear that there were challenges with the initial rollout of universal credit –and the main issue that led to an increase in food bank use could have been the fact that people had difficulty accessing their money early enough.”
It’s now abundantly clear that the welfare cuts inflicted by the UK Government on people across Scotland are directly forcing vulnerable people into poverty.
I have been campaigning and commenting on the subject of Universal Credit since my election in 2015 and have voted against the UK Government’s welfare cuts at every opportunity. The public petition I have created has been signed by hundreds of Inverclyde constituents who have raised their concerns about the policy.
Universal Credit still carries the punitive benefit freeze, two child cap and rape clause as well as the brutal sanctions regime born from ideologically-driven Tory austerity. I will continue to campaign for further changes to the policy.
Ronnie Cowan MP 