With full social security powers we can end Westminster cruelty
With full powers over social security, Scotland could do far more to build a humane system for households and communities, say the Scottish Greens.
The comments from the party’s social security spokesperson, Maggie Chapman, come as new figures show that 123,000 households across England, Scotland and Wales have had their benefits capped as a result of the household benefit cap that was originally introduced by the Tories but is continuing under Labour.
The benefit cap restricts the amount of UK social security payments given to households regardless of the cost of rent and other factors, and has seen families forced into homelessness and deeper poverty.
The cap has been largely mitigated in Scotland through the use of devolved powers. This change was secured by the Scottish Greens as part of the cooperation agreement that brought the party into government for the first time.
Ms Chapman said: “I am proud of the work we have done in Scotland to offset some of the most abhorrent aspects of Westminster’s cruel social security system, including mitigating the benefit cap and increasing the Scottish Child Payment. But we should never have been put in that position in the first place.
“Over 14 years of Tory rule they built a brutal and punishing system that is based on stigmatising and humiliating people in poverty.
“With Labour beginning its time in office by continuing the two child benefit cap and cutting the Winter Fuel Payment, I fear that we are only going to see the further entrenchment of the kind of callous austerity and policies that have done so much damage and hurt so many people.
“At the stroke of a pen, Sir Keir Starmer could lift thousands of children and their families out of poverty and hugely improve their lives and their life chances. But so far he is showing no signs of breaking from a system that has plunged so many people into despair.
“After so many years of economic chaos, we need to build a compassionate system that supports and empowers people. We have made a lot of important steps by mitigating the household benefit cap and introducing the Scottish Child Payment, which has lifted thousands of children and their families out of poverty.
“We can and must do more, but the biggest driver of poverty and inequality in Scotland is the Westminster government and years of decisions that have shown a total disregard for the lives of marginalised people and families."