RUTH Davidson has accused the Scottish Government of "gross hypocrisy" over the rape clause.
In an astonishing statement that provoked an angry response from the First Minister, the Scots Tory leader said if the SNP Government really cared, they could use Holyrood’s powers to stop families being hit by the vicious two-child limit to the tax credit system.
“We support the exemptions which the UK Government has put in place on restrictions to child tax credits,” Davidson said, “and we want to see the UK Government implement them in the most compassionate way possible. That work is on-going.
“The SNP has said it opposes the two-child policy on tax credits, so it now has a choice to make.
“At Holyrood, we now have the power to create new benefits. So the Scottish Government could, if it wanted, propose a new benefit to provide funding for families with more than two children.
“Of course this would have to be paid for, but if the SNP Government believes this to be of such importance, then it can act. However, if Nicola Sturgeon simply wants to use this to complain about the policies of the UK Government — and not act at Holyrood when she has the power to do so — then she leaves herself open to the charge of gross hypocrisy.”
Nicola Sturgeon responded on Twitter, calling the statement “Pathetic”.
She said: “@scotgov spends millions mitigating welfare cuts & will continue to do so. We wouldn’t have to if Tories didn’t make callous cuts,” she added.
Davidson’s ill-judged intervention, her first full statement on the policy, came as hundreds descended on Glasgow’s George Square to protest the so-called rape clause element of the two child tax credit limit.
The "non-consensual conception exception" is the only way a family can apply for child tax credit for a third dependent. To be eligible a mother must prove her son or daughter was convceived as the result of rape. Anyone applying for that exemption must fill out an eight page form, naming the child.
Department of Work and Pension plans to use third-party agencies like Rape Crisis Scotland and Scottish Women’s Aid to help process the applications have been left in turmoil after the agencies refused to "collude" with the system.
SNP MP Alison Thewliss, who has been at the forefront of the campaign against the changes, was one of the speakers at the Glasgow protest.
Speaking ahead of the protest, she said Davidson was “isolated” on the policy. “Ruth Davidson has become completely isolated and desperate in her attempts to defend the vile rape clause. It takes a special kind of twisted logic for the Tory leader in Scotland to call for the Scottish Parliament to protect families from the vindictive policies of the Tory Government in Westminster.
“Ms Davidson fails to mention that people in Scotland already pay our taxes to the UK Government for a social security system that should be fair and there when we need it.
“If Ruth Davidson wants the Scottish Government to mitigate yet more Tory cuts, will she also call on the Tory Government to pass on Scotland’s share of the £12 billion ‘savings’ they intend to make through those brutal welfare cuts?
“The fact is, this policy is unfair everywhere — and should be scrapped across the whole of the UK. Rather than back those calls, Ruth Davidson instead wants people in Scotland to pay an ever-increasing ransom to the Tories at Westminster to protect people on low incomes from ever-more disgraceful Tory policies.“
Speaking at the protest Sandy Brindley from Rape Crisis Scotland said: “This is a horrific policy. If you think about the circumstances of someone who has become pregnant because of rape, they have to choose between poverty or disclosing their rape to the DWP... it is unspeakable.”
A Department for Work and Pensions spokeswoman said: “This exception is crucial to protect women who are faced with very difficult circumstances. This reform ensures people on benefits have to make the same choices as those supporting themselves solely through work. But we have always been clear this will be delivered in the most effective, compassionate way, with the right exceptions and safeguards in place.”
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