West Lothian Labour MPs vote to back Tory cuts despite 1 in 5 children in poverty
Thursday, 15 January 2015
It has been revealed 28 Scottish Labour MPs including West Lothian based Michael Connarty MP and Graeme Morrice MP voted with the Tory/LibDem UK Government this week (Tuesday 13th January) for £75billion of cuts and tax rises.
Commenting, local SNP Constituency MSP, Fiona Hyslop said;
“I am deeply disappointed with Michael Connarty and Graeme Morrice for siding with the Tories and voting for more cuts and tax rises, directly affecting their own constituents in West Lothian – one of the hardest hit areas of George Osborne’s actions.
“1 in 5 children across West Lothian are living in poverty, but it as high as 1 in 4 in areas such as Whitburn and Blackburn. The Westminster vote on austerity also endorsed the welfare cap which ‘locks-in’ the Tories welfare cuts, which we know will push 100,000 extra children across Scotland into poverty by 2020.
“The SNP in government has a strong record on protecting our public services and supporting public sector workers – including the recent funding announced for NHS boards across the country. But the impact of Westminster’s austerity agenda is continuing to be felt and it does not help when opposition Labour MPs side with and actively vote in favour of Westminster Government cuts.”