Local MP Says Westminster Greed is 'Crassly Insensitive'

LABOUR AND TORIES MPs WANT PAY HIKE AS WELFARE GETS CUT
The SNP has hit out at the Westminster system’s ‘crassly insensitive’ mind-set following a revelation showing anti-independence MPs believe they deserve a salary hike to £86,250.

In the same week where MPs voted through welfare cuts which will have an adverse impact on hundreds of thousands of working families the anti-independence parties MPs have declared that they want more money from the public purse.

The survey conducted by the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (Ipsa) showed the Tories want a whopping £96,740, the Lib Dems said they should get £78,361 and Labour MPs want to increase their pay £77,322.

Banff & Buchan MP Dr Eilidh Whiteford, the SNP’s spokesperson on Welfare, said:

“The Ipsa survey reveals a crassly insensitive show of greed which is an embarrassment for the Westminster system and highlights the need for Scotland to have full responsibility for its own affairs.

“In a week where the UK government has imposed cuts to welfare benefits on the most vulnerable members in our communities - and a further £210 million set to be taken from the pockets of individuals, families and communities - this just highlights how archaic the Westminster system is.

“Whilst politicians are expecting the public sector to cope with restricted pay rises and in some cases pay freezes, and hard pressed families are being hit with benefit cuts politicians should be expected to follow the same approach

“The self-serving nature of anti-independence MPs combined with Alistair Darling’s absence from the vote against Tory cuts to Welfare this has been a dreadful week for the anti-independence campaign.

“It could scarcely be clearer that the Westminster system has its priorities all wrong and is failing to act in the interests of people in Scotland.

“Decisions over taxes and welfare in Scotland should be made by people in Scotland so that we can build the kind of country that Westminster has consistently failed to deliver. Only a Yes vote for an independent Scotland in next year’s referendum will give us that opportunity.”

Notes: MPs call for '32% salary increase' http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-20978487

SNP MPs do not vote on issues relating to their remuneration as they don’t believe MPs should be in the position of voting on their own pay and conditions.

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Whiteford Welcomes Ithaca's Commitment to North Sea Oil

The SNP has welcomed news that Canadian firm Ithaca Energy will invest up to £224million in the North Sea.

The company confirmed it will spend the money in an oil field south-east of Peterhead.

Commenting, Banff & Buchan MP Eilidh Whiteford said:

“It is extremely encouraging that Canadian energy firm Ithaca is investing in Scotland’s oil assets.

“Countries from around the world acknowledge the potential Scotland has, which was reflected in the outstanding year the oil and gas industry had in 2012, with a predicted £11.5billion of investment and jobs and investment announced.

“There are 24 billion barrels of oil still to be recovered in the North Sea, with a wholesale value of £1.5 trillion.

“Scotland’s North Sea resources are fantastic assets which will benefit an independent Scotland for generations.

“It is only with a Yes vote in 2014 that will allow us to build a lasting economic legacy from our offshore resources that will benefit Scotland for generations to come.”

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Welfare Benefits - Uprating : An Assault on the Working Poor

After the coalition relaunch yesterday the landscape of what Scottish families can expect between now and 2015 is being laid out with the second reading of the Welfare Benefits-Uprating Bill today at Westminster. It represents a further assault on the working poor.

The proposed cap of 1% on the uprating of working age benefits is a measure that will make people on low incomes even poorer, increase deprivation, and widen the gap between the haves and have nots in our communities.

SNP Work and Pensions spokesperson Eilidh Whiteford , MP for Banff and Buchan commented :

"The coalition cap will particularly hit parents in low paid work or in part time work who are already struggling to make ends meet because of the wider economic climate. Many people – particularly in lower paid private sector jobs - have had their working hours cut in recent times because of the economic downturn.

"Many people who are working part-time want to be working full time, but can’t find a full-time job, or pick up extra hours at the present time. And we’re all aware of the particular challenges for those who are juggling work with parenting or caring responsibilities in the context of reduced support for child care and changes to the tax credit system.

"A family with one full time earner on minimum wage, will be £13 a week worse off by 2015. A disabled lone parent of two children receiving the support component of ESA will see a comparable net loss of income in real terms. These calculations don’t include the cuts families like these will already have experienced through changes to the tax credit system and child care support. What these examples mask, though, is the disproportional impact the rising costs of living have on low income households.

"It is welcome news that Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon is establishing an expert group which will advise on how a fairer welfare system can be introduced in an independent Scotland which will protect the vulnerable, support Scottish households, and ensure that work pays. With devolution the powers of the Scottish Government are currently limited, nevertheless the SNP Government is investing to mitigate the impact of Westminster cuts to communities. Together with partners in local government, £40 million is being invested in 2013/14 to ensure that over 560,000 people in Scotland are protected from the UK Government’s 10 per cent cut to Council Tax Benefit funding.

"An extra £9.2m has been allocated for the Scottish Welfare Fund which means an additional 5,600 Community Care Grants, and over 100,000 Crisis Grants for those groups who need help most.

"With a Yes vote in 2014 we would begin work to establish a welfare system that better reflects Scotland’s values, and ensures fair and decent support for those that need it most - a system that protects the vulnerable and supports households, rather than seeing them subject to unfair ideological benefit cuts from Westminster"

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New Report Slams Westminster Welfare Plans as 'Bogus' and 'Poverty Producing'

A newly published report from the Child Poverty Action Group has condemned the Westminster Government’s benefit uprating plans as ‘based on bogus claims and is a poverty-producing bill that will further exclude the poorest workers, jobseekers, carers and disabled people’.

The Westminster Government is in the process of legislating to break the link between benefits and inflation, by capping any increase to benefits payments of 1% per annum, well below the rate of inflation.

This is expected to have the cumulative effect of introducing a 4% real-terms cut to working-age benefits payments received by workers, jobseekers, carers and disabled people over the next three years.

Commenting, SNP Work and Pensions spokesperson Eilidh Whiteford MP for Banff and Buchan  said:

“This report makes damning reading for the Westminster Government who are set to throw their commitments to tackle child poverty out the window by hammering some of the poorest people in society.

“It shows that their arguments are fundamentally flawed and are set to do untold damage to thousands and thousands of people across Scotland.

“The Coalition’s welfare plans will inevitably only increase poverty and increase inequality in society, which is why they have been condemned in such stark and unequivocal terms.

“It could scarcely be clearer that the Westminster Government has its priorities all wrong and are failing to act in the interests of people in Scotland.“Decisions over taxes and welfare in Scotland should be made by people in Scotland so that we can build the kind of country that Westminster has consistently failed to deliver. Only a Yes vote for an independent Scotland in next year’s referendum will give us that opportunity."

Note: The Child Poverty Action Group’s report can be viewed at  http://www.cpag.org.uk/

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