NEW analysis from the SNP has revealed the areas of Scotland hit hardest by the two-child benefit cap as the fallout from Keir Starmer’s stance on the issue continues.
The research comes after Humza Yousaf told the Labour leader to look to Scotland for inspiration on how to deal with child poverty.
Analysis conducted by the SNP using data from the UK Government's Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) reveals Glasgow is the worst hit local authority in Scotland.
Figures show 3990 households (54%) in receipt of Universal Credit or Child Tax Credits were not in receipt of financial support for at least one child in April 2023.
READ MORE: Welsh independence support UP amid surge among young people
Glasgow is followed by Fife with 1860 families hit, while 1830 have been impacted in North Lanarkshire.
In Edinburgh, 1530 families have been affected while in South Lanarkshire the figure stands at 1420 households.
The map below shows how every local authority is affected by the two-child cap. The darker the colour, the more families in the area are impacted.
Taken as a percentage of households hit, East Ayrshire comes off worse with three in five households (59%) not receiving support for at least one child.
This is closely followed by Stirling (58%), Aberdeen City (57%), Midlothian (57%) and West Dunbartonshire (57%).
Commenting, the SNP’s social justice spokesperson at Westminster, David Linden (below), said: “Sir Keir Starmer has abandoned thousands of families in Scotland to poverty by making the political choice to keep the Tory two child cap – demonstrating that independence is the only way to secure real change and a fairer future for Scotland.
“Politics is about priorities. The SNP government has prioritised tackling poverty by introducing progressive policies like the Scottish Child Payment but the damaging policies of the Tories and pro-Brexit Labour Party are pushing children back into poverty and undermining progress.
“The SNP is the only party offering real change with independence – and real help with the cost of living. In contrast, Sunak and Starmer have clearly decided tackling poverty and helping families is not a priority for them.
“With the full powers of independence, Scotland can scrap the two-child cap and go further to eradicate poverty for good.
“At the next election, voting SNP is the only way to secure independence and get rid of damaging Westminster governments for good.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel