Labour need to stop “weaponising” the two-child policy against the SNP and work with the Scottish Government, Aileen Campbell argued

SCOTTISH COMMUNITIES MINISTER Aileen Campbell condemned the “systemic failings” of Tory welfare reforms in her ministerial statement on UN Special Rapporteur Professor Philip Alston’s recently published report on UK poverty and human rights.

Tory welfare cuts will result in £3.7b reduction of social security spending in Scotland

THE SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT united against both the Scottish Conservatives and the UK Government during a debate on the impact of Universal Credit and Tory welfare cuts on those in poverty in Holyrood today [6 November].

The debate comes as the United Nations special investigator on extreme poverty and human rights, Philip Alston, begins a two-week inquiry into the impact of austerity in the UK and its effect on human rights.

Human rights report to UN says more action is needed on women’s rights in Scotland

A NEW report by the Scottish Human Rights Commission (SHRC) has called on the Scottish and UK governments to take action to protect women’s economic, social and political rights.

Fresh criticism of flagship Tory welfare reform voiced following highly critical NAO report

THE UK GOVERNMENT must rectify the problems of Universal Credit “rather than pretending they do not exist”, the Association of Independent Professionals and the Self-Employed has warned, as pressure mounts on work and pensions secretary Esther McVey to resign following claims that she wilfully misled parliament while defending the controversial welfare reform.

Scotland’s social security powers are limited, but experts argue there are actions which could be taken to address food poverty

EXPERTS AND campaigners have pointed to answers within the grasp of the Scottish Government which could help turn the tide on rising poverty figures amid Tory cuts to social security and the roll-out of the widely criticised Universal Credit.

Foodbank charity calls for inquiry into universal credit administration and an increase in benefits in line with inflation

FOODBANK USE in Scotland has reached a record high and insufficient income from benefits is the leading cause, according to new figures from charity The Trussell Trust.

Protestors in Edinburgh against the family cap and rape clause say nothing less than a full u-turn will address injustice

A DEMONSTRATION in Edinburgh against the UK Government’s controversial two child cap on tax credits and the associated “rape clause” on Thursday (19 April) offered a rallying cry to opponents of the policy to keep the issue in the spotlight and “stay angry”.

Relative poverty, child poverty and income inequality on the rise, new statistics show

STATISTICS PUBLISHED today by the Scottish Government indicate a continued increase in poverty in Scotland, with a marked rise coinciding with the recession and the introduction of austerity policies.

Around 860,000 people in Scotland each year are living in relative poverty before housing costs, and over one million after housing costs – a fact which campaigners have linked to a lack of affordable housing.