Emma Roddick MSP has condemned the UK Labour Government for continuing to inflict Westminster’s austerity agenda on Scottish families, as new figures revealed that the SNP Scottish Government was forced to spend £245,337 in Shetland last year mitigating harmful Labour welfare policies, including the widely hated Bedroom Tax, through Discretionary Housing Payments.

New figures have shown that between April 2024 and March 2025, 141,985 Discretionary Housing Payment awards were made across Scotland, helping households avoid rent arrears, eviction, and homelessness, all caused or exacerbated by Labour’s policies.

Despite a full year in power, Keir Starmer’s government has refused to scrap the Bedroom Tax, a Tory era measure which cuts housing support for those with a “spare” bedroom, or reverse the benefit cap, which penalises larger families and vulnerable people.

Commenting, Emma Roddick said:

“A year into Labour’s government, it’s clear that no Westminster party will deliver change for Scotland.  Cruel policies brought in by the Tories have been kept and worsened by Keir Starmer.

“Meanwhile, the SNP continues to stand up for Scotland.  As well as working to actively bring in policies that support people who need it most, we continue to protect people from the worst Labour policies.  While Labour imposes cuts, we are protecting families from the Bedroom Tax and shielding them from the benefit cap.

“The SNP will never stand by while families suffer. We will always act to protect the most vulnerable from Labour’s cuts, and deliver for the people of Scotland.”