Many Scots were rightly horrified when the Tories launched their war on disabled benefit claimants, forcing them to undergo cruel tests and pushing them into extreme poverty by taking away payments on a whim.
Labour’s plan to cut the benefit bill by getting many disabled people back into work must not replicate that strategy. The plan is already suffering a backlash among Labour party activists and voters. They fear people who are simply unfit to work will be forced back into the workplace or face having their benefits cut.
They don’t want to see the most vulnerable people in society penalised. Cutting welfare is not what was expected from a Labour government so it’s understandable people are angry.
Keir Starmer’s big challenge will be convincing voters that this is the kind of change that can actually improve lives. If there is a package of support to get people into jobs and tackle the epidemic of worklessness, many Scots will support it.
The UK Government is right that the increasing number of people claiming sickness or disability benefit is a problem that needs to be solved. The health and disability benefits bill, £28billion before the pandemic, has now risen to £52billion a year.
It is forecast to hit £70billion by the end of the decade. It would be irresponsible for the Labour government to do nothing. Getting people into stable employment is the best way to reduce poverty and get Britain’s economy moving again.
But the welfare reforms must avoid the demonisation of the poor which we saw for 14 years under the Tories. It must concentrate on helping those who can work into employment, rather than punishing those who can’t work by making them even poorer.
Protect all renters
The tragic death of Awaab Ishak shocked people across the UK when details emerged in 2022.
The two-year-old died just days after his birthday from a respiratory condition exacerbated by the terrible levels of black mould in his family home. His parents had tried and failed to get their local housing association to do something about the condition of their rented home.
A campaign subsequently led the UK Government to introduce regulations known as Awaab’s Law to force landlords to fix damp and mould problems within strict timeframes. The regulations will now finally be introduced in Scotland under amendments to the SNP Government’s Housing Bill, which is making its way through Parliament.
The introduction of the law is welcome – but only covers those in social housing. The authorities must ensure that all rental homes are kept in safe conditions, regardless of the type of tenancy agreement.