SNP slam shamefully insufficient benefits as half of claimants can't afford food

The SNP has called out the UK Government's "shamefully insufficient" benefits system, following new research from the Trussell Trust which has shown more than half of people receiving Universal Credit in Scotland were unable to afford food in the last month.

47% of those surveyed now find themselves either behind on bills and credit commitments, or find themselves struggling to keep up with them. As a result, 32% of those surveyed have fallen into debt.

Supporting the Trussell Trust's 'Essentials guarantees' campaign, the SNP has warned that successive Westminster governments have failed Scots time and again.

Commenting, the SNP's spokesperson for Social Justice, David Linden MP said:

"The Chancellor must commit in the Spring Budget to introducing an 'essentials guarantee' to ensure that Universal Credit will always cover the cost of essentials.

"The SNP are committed to eradicating poverty in Scotland. The Scottish Government has frozen council tax, introduced the Scottish Child Payment and Best Start Grants, on top of protecting Scottish households from Westminster's cruel bedroom tax and benefit cap - two things we shouldn't have to do.

"The UK Tory government has failed Scotland time and time again, whether that be through thirteen years of austerity, the unmitigated disaster of Brexit, or the Westminster-made cost of living crisis.

"It's clear that only by voting SNP in this year's general election can we make Scotland Tory-free, and return a strong group of SNP MPs that will made Scotland's voice heard at every possible opportunity."