LIB/DEMS CONVERT TO CONSERVATIVES ON BENEFITS

For immediate use: Saturday 18 September 2010


Attn: NEWSDESKS
POLITICAL CORRESPONDENTS


The SNP has warned the Liberal Democrats over their new zeal for
Conservative plans to dramatically slash welfare benefits after
Treasury Secretary Danny Alexander revealed that planned cuts to the
welfare budget could be far greater than the £4 billion in extra
savings suggested by the Chancellor last week.


Mr Alexander’s enthusiasm for Tory cuts in an interview in today’s
Scotsman comes as the Scottish Local Government Forum Against Poverty
revealed research showing that changes to Disability Living Allowance,
Incapacity Benefit, Housing Benefit, Child Benefit and public sector
pensions will take as much as £614million from the economy directly
jeopardising 14,000 jobs.


Commenting, SNP spokesperson on work and pensions Dr Eilidh Whiteford MP said;


"Having jumped into bed with the Tories, the Liberal Democrats clearly
have the zeal of the convert. The next thing, Danny Alexander will be
saying there is no such thing as society – real Lib Dems will be
horrified.


“Danny Alexander’s assumption appears to be that everybody on benefits
is somehow cheating the system or work-shy.


“Of course welfare reform is necessary and of course we must deal with
welfare cheats, but reforms must be based on the medical circumstances
of individuals, not some random figure which will compound the poverty
and social exclusion experienced by disabled people.


“The Scottish Local Government Forum Against Poverty report shows the
changes already announced will have a serious impact on Scotland’s
economy attacking the poorest and most vulnerable in society.


“We have the same old Tories, now helped by the Liberal Democrats,
cutting too far and too fast and leaving the poorest households to
bear the brunt of tax rises, benefit cuts and the loss of public
services and jobs.


“We simply must not have cuts for the sake of cuts. Not only would
that risk forcing the truly vulnerable in society into a perilous
position, it also takes vital capital out of the economy without
consideration of the impact.”


ENDS


Details of Danny Alexander’s interview can be found here:
http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/news/Welfare-cuts-could-be-more.6538408.jp