The coalition’s changes to benefits and direct taxes have hurt families with children under five harder than any other household group, according to the most comprehensive evaluation yet of the UK government’s social policy record.
The report – prepared by a group of academics overseen by the LSE and the Universities of Manchester and York – also said that the poorest were the hardest hit, and that the cuts to welfare were offset by the cost of tax cuts higher up the income scale, with no overall contribution to paying down the deficit.
The report concludes that the government’s stated aim that the rich should contribute proportionately more to repairing the country's finances has “not been realised”.
Commenting, SNP Work and Pensions spokesperson Dr Eilidh Whiteford MP said:
“This report lays bare the extent of the UK government's disastrous austerity agenda.
“The Scottish Government is doing all it can to mitigate the impact of welfare cuts, but the real powers over tax and welfare still remain in Westminster – despite the fact that the UK government has proven time and time again it cannot be trusted to look out for our most vulnerable people.
“While the SNP voted against continued austerity from Westminster, Scottish Labour sided with the coalition and voted for £30bn more austerity which, as this report shows, hits the poorest the hardest.
“A strong team of SNP MPs will ensure that Scotland's priorities will become Westminster's priorities, and force an end to failed austerity."