Friday September 2nd 2016
Midlothian MP Owen Thompson has today called for an urgent review on current practices of handling Tax credit claims for lone parents claiming they are being victimised and vilified on a scale similar to the 1980’s.
In a letter sent to the Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond, the MP highlights the disproportionate impact on women and children and accuses the Government of allowing the breakdown of internal systems used by MPs to highlight individual cases.
Owen Thompson said:
“Over the last few months I have been horrified and disgusted at the treatment of single parents who have been the subject of a witch hunt by HMRC and Concentrix.”
“Constituents have approached me with cases of imaginable and unfair victimisation that has led to instances of children missing school, meals and even sleeping in cars. This systematic vilification of single parents is a backward step, and a return to the Thatcherite days of prejudice that has taken decades to leave behind.”
“This situation is now untenable and the Government must immediately intervene.”
