Monday March 17th 2025
Colin Beattie MSP, Midlothian North & Musselburgh, writes his monthly column for Midlothian View
Throughout the 2024 General Election campaign, Anas Sarwar told us there would be no austerity under a UK Labour Government. But after cuts to Winter Fuel Payments, the Labour Government are reported to be planning to introduce up to £5 billion cuts to the welfare budget – including slashing Personal Independence Payments (PIP). It is estimated that living with a disability increases living costs by over £1,000, the withdrawal of this support is shameful.
The reality is clear: Labour’s promises are worthless, and their government will be no different from the Tories when it comes to aiming their “tough choices” at the most vulnerable in our society.
After 14 years of brutal Tory austerity, which hammered public services and pushed people into hardship, the answer cannot be more of the same.
We are beginning to see a familiar pattern emerging, Scottish Labour MPs choosing party loyalties over their constituents. I was disappointed to see five Scottish Labour MPs sign a letter supporting these so called “welfare reforms”. This proves that yet again they will always toe the party line, even when it comes at the expense of their disabled constituents.
The Scottish Government is clear; these plans must be scrapped, and the Scottish Government cannot be expected to mitigate yet another UK Government policy. We already spend £210 million to mitigate the worst of these policies – funding that could be used elsewhere in budget to improve our public services. Cuts to PIP will directly hit the Scottish Budget, making it even harder to ensure our disabled friends and family are supported.
This is exactly why Scotland needs the full powers of independence. Only then can we build a fairer, more compassionate system that support those who need it most – rather than being at the mercy of another Westminster Government reading from the same turbocharged austerity hymn sheet.
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