Wishaw’s MSP has hit out at Scottish Labour over the party’s plans for social security spending at Holyrood.
Clare Adamson warned that any Labour moves to cut spending on tackling child poverty would be devastating for children and families in her constituency.
Labour leader Anas Sarwar has signalled his party could shift away from benefits spending as the primary method to tackle child poverty.
Mr Sarwar warned that “the uncomfortable fact is that we can’t end poverty with welfare alone” – pointing to a need to “create more decent well paid jobs”.
However, Ms Adamson, MSP for Motherwell and Wishaw, said: “Scottish Labour used to support social security investment as a means to tackling poverty.
“They campaigned against cruel DWP policies when it was the Tories making those calls. Now, a Labour UK Government are running things and Scottish Labour has suddenly misplaced its values.
“Labour previously supported the SNP’s game-changing Scottish Child Payment; a support payment that is unique to Scotland and has lifted thousands of children out of poverty.
“But now, Anas Sarwar appears to have gone back on his word. As he has done with the winter fuel payment and compensation for WASPI women.
“We warned before the UK election that Scottish Labour would be unfit and unable to stand up to their London bosses.
“Those warnings were well founded going by what we have seen since Labour took office. This is not the change that was promised.
“In contrast, this SNP Government under John Swinney has put forward a budget that commits to record NHS funding, the reinstatement of a universal winter fuel payment, 8000 affordable new homes and the abolition of the abhorrent two child cap.”
Labour UK Work and Pensions Secretary, Liz Kendall, has said that under her leadership, “the DWP will shift from being a department for welfare to being a department for work”.
Speaking in Glasgow, Mr Sarwar said: “The SNP wants to pretend that one single benefit or payment has the answer. The uncomfortable fact is that we can’t end poverty with welfare alone.
“To end poverty we need to get our economy moving, our public services working and create more decent, well-paid jobs.
“The frustration that I’m expressing today, and I think many people across the country will feel, is that we have this pretence in Scotland that somehow welfare is the only route out of poverty.
“The harsh reality is that there is a multidisciplinary approach required if we are to end child poverty.”
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