Scottish Parliament votes in favour of motion calling on UK Government to cancel its planned cut to universal credit

If Conservative Party goes ahead with the cut it will be a 'serious and historic mistake' that will not be forgiven, warns Social Security Minister

The Scottish Parliament has voted in favour of a motion calling on the UK Government to cancel its planned £20 per week cut to universal credit.

The motion, which was submitted by the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Housing and Local Government Shona Robison, proposed - 

'That the Parliament agrees, along with opposition parties in the UK Parliament, that the UK Government’s planned reduction to universal credit should be reversed; recognises the cross-party efforts of opposition parties in the UK Parliament and the social security committees of each of the four nations' parliaments and assembly in this aim; notes Scottish Government analysis that the reduction of universal credit could reduce welfare expenditure in Scotland by £461 million a year by 2023/2024 and push 60,000 people, including 20,000 children, into poverty; agrees that the inadequacy of the payment is just one of many issues with universal credit, alongside the two-child cap and the abhorrent so-called 'rape clause', the five-week wait for a first payment, the benefit sanctions regime and the so-called 'bedroom tax'; believes that this reflects the UK Government’s uncompassionate approach to welfare, which has been challenged by opposition parties across the UK, and acknowledges Scotland’s human rights-based approach to social security.'

Introducing a debate on the motion in the Scottish Parliament yesterday, Ms Robison pointed out that, while the UK Government did the right thing at the start of the pandemic in recognising that the standard allowance of universal credit is not sufficient to live on, across the UK - 

'... people are facing a perfect storm of the end of the furlough scheme, a hike in national insurance contributions and rising energy and food prices. The cut threatens to compound those issues and deal millions of households a hammer blow of hardship.'

In addition, Minister for Social Security and Local Government Ben Macpherson warned that if the Conservative Party goes ahead with the cut, it will be -

'... a serious and historic mistake that Scotland and the rest of the UK will not forgive.'

Following the debate, a vote in favour of the motion was passed by 88 votes to 28.

The debate on Universal Credit is available from parliament.scot