New research: 100,000 more claimants in poverty due to Westminster cuts

SNP plea for Tories to U-turn on Universal Credit cuts

New research published by the Institute of Fiscal Studies (IFS) has found that Westminster cuts to Universal Credit has forced 100,000 more people into absolute poverty in 2022-23.

With this damning new evidence, the SNP has repeated calls for the Westminster government to reverse their devastating cuts to Universal Credit and reinstate the £20 uplift.

Anti-poverty campaigners have also repeatedly backed calls for the Tory government at Westminster to reinstate the £20 uplift - which provided families with the basic support they needed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

After leading the campaign during the pandemic to keep the £20 Universal Credit top-up, SNP MP David Linden has commented on the IFS report saying it is 'urgent' that the UK government reinstate the uplift.

Commenting on the research, SNP Social Justice Spokesperson, David Linden MP said:

"The scathing findings from the IFS report only serve to reinforce the callous nature of the Tories decision to cut universal credit while families were already struggling to get by and highlights the urgency of reinstating the top-up for claimants.

"Westminster must reverse their devastating cuts to universal credit top-up, increase it to £25-per-week and extend it to means-tested legacy benefits, as households continue to deal with the consequences of the Westminster-made cost-of-living crisis.

"Whilst the SNP Government continue to use the full extent of its limited devolved powers to implement progressive policies such as the Scottish Child Payment and Best Start Grants, it is only with the full powers of independence can we truly address the issue of poverty."