Thousands to be hit by latest cuts

Mrs McLeod, MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden, is concerned that nearly 2,800 families in East Dunbartonshire are going to be hit by changes to the credit schemes, which means that 4,900 children are potentially disadvantaged.

She said: “These shameful Tory cuts were always going to hammer those in our community who were already struggling to get by, and these figures show that it is children who are going to pay a particularly heavy price, with almost 5,000 set to lose out in East Dunbartonshire.

“For anyone who hasn’t grasped the scale of these cuts yet, these figures should help them understand just how many families locally are being hit and how many children are affected.

“I am talking about families with children where the parents work and have relied on the Tax Credit scheme to make their pay packets go further to keep a roof over their heads and food on the table.

“Tax credits don’t fund elaborate lifestyles, they fill the gap in pay packets that don’t meet the rising cost of living.

“The Tory government should be utterly ashamed that the number of children from working families living in poverty has grown under their watch, but as these cuts to tax credits show, they are intent on intensifying their punitive cuts agenda instead of supporting those in need.

“Working families and vulnerable people in Scotland can’t afford for decisions over the economy and social security to continue to be made by the likes of George Osborne.”

Mrs McLeod believes that it’s time for these powers to be transferred to Scotland to enable the Scottish Government to support working families and children.

She added: “The UK Government’s course will push even more children into poverty.”