THE public is urged to “pile in” to a UK Government consultation and send a “clear message” rejecting the proposed two-child policy and rape clause.
The consultation opened on Friday more than one year after the tax credits changes were revealed in a budget by former Chancellor George Osborne.
If enacted in April next year, they would mean people with more than two children are unable to claim payments for subsequent babies, unless those youngsters are conceived in rape.
Open for one month, the consultation reveals that, as well as reporting to a third-party like a police officer or doctor, a rape survivor will only be able to claim these payments if they are not living with their attacker.
The document, issued by the Department for Work and Pensions, says the move is “in the best interests and safety of the claimant and her children” and will prevent rapists from gaining financial benefit.
Alison Thewliss MP, who is campaigning for the plan to be scrapped, called the consultation “a small but significant step forward” and called on the public to “pile in” with objections before time runs out.
She said: “The Government must listen to rape crisis campaigners who are crystal clear that these policies are unworkable, immoral and medieval.”
Meanwhile, Sandy Brindley of Rape Crisis Scotland said: “Some women struggle to even tell their partner or closest friend that they have been raped, but they will be expected to disclose that their child was conceived as a result of rape.
“We also know rape by partners is far more common than people realise, and it is very possible that someone in this situation is still living with perpetrator. The proposal to withhold financial support in these circumstances hows how barbaric the policy is.”
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