SNP MSP hits out at “dangerous” benefits rhetoric

SNP MSP Emma Roddick has hit out at Tory colleagues for “dangerous” rhetoric around disability payments, claiming that recent rhetoric from both the Conservative and Labour parties in the UK is “terrifying” disabled people.

The Highlands and Islands MSP intervened on a speech by Conservative Stephen Kerr MSP during a debate on UK welfare cuts and their impact on Scotland.

Ms Roddick said:

“It’s important that we call out this dangerous rhetoric as often as possible.

“I am disgusted that Labour has chosen to follow the Tories in monstering disabled people. Constantly, we hear politicians from the Conservatives and Labour parties talk about the need to cut the benefits bill by getting people on disability benefits ‘back into work’ – but disability benefits do not mean out-of-work benefits.

“Many disabled people are able to work, or already in work, but it’s harder to make work pay when you have the extra cost of disability. Families caring for disabled children, in work or not, deserve better than to have the threat of their money being taken away hanging over their heads.

“Politicians in all parties have a duty to protect their most vulnerable constituents, and you cannot do that if you play into easy but dangerous rhetoric on disability benefits.

“The more difficult, but correct, route is to focus on making workplaces more inclusive to disabled people and parents of disabled children – and making work pay by outlawing dodgy fire-and-rehire practices and paying below a living wage. I hope that the Conservatives and Labour will stop their race to the bottom of employment rights and instead focus on making the country a better place to work in – disabled or not.”