Hyslop Calls on Tories to Condemn Family Cap and Rape Clause
Following today’s Scottish Parliament debate on Child Tax Credit Cuts, Fiona Hyslop MSP for the Linlithgow Constituency is calling on all Tory MSPs to oppose the shocking and inhumane two child limit and rape clause.
The family cap limits tax credits to only two children per family – unless the mother can prove that a third child was conceived as a result of rape or during an abusive relationship.
Fiona said;
“The Tory policy that has become known as the rape clause, requiring women to disclose deeply personal information and prove that a third or subsequent child was conceived as a result of rape in order to claim tax credits, is both disgraceful and disgusting.
“The Conservatives at West railroaded through these policies without a parliamentary debate or vote – leaving many outstanding questions with regards to womens’ rights, the impact on child poverty, as well as how the hundreds of thousands of healthcare professionals will be trained to assess evidence of rape.
“The Scottish Conservatives should be ashamed of their party, but instead they are defending the indefensible welfare cuts coming from Westminster.”
ENDS
Extra info:
Many sexual violence support charities such as Rape Crisis Scotland and Scottish Women’s Aid have said they will refuse to act as third party verifiers for the UK government, not least due to the trauma and stigma that the rape assessment process will cause both survivors and children of rape.
SNP MP Alison Thewliss has led the campaign to scrap the grotesque two child policy and rape clause.