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SNP minister hits out at Labour Government's welfare cuts
Equalities Minister Kaukab Stewart's comments came as she launched the Scottish Government's Disability Equality Plan in Glasgow on Friday, a report which aims to put disabled people's experiences and concerns at the centre of policymaking.
The plan – which has been in the making since 2016 – looks to improve access to mental health, advice and support services, as well as funding training for policymakers and leaders to build understanding of the issues facing disabled people.
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It also sets out plans to have an annual "Cabinet Takeover", where disabled people will be given a "direct platform" to speak to ministers.
As she launched the review, Stewart said she was "firmly opposed" to the UK Government's approach, as she called on Labour to "follow our lead" and protect the welfare system "rather than dismantling it".
"At a time when the UK Government's welfare reforms appear to be driven more by cost cutting than by compassion, and balancing the books at the expense of disabled people, let me be frank: Scotland will not, by any means, mirror that approach," she said at the launch.
The Labour Government is preparing to push through its Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill, which – among other things – would change the eligibility criteria for the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) disability benefit.
The UK Government's own analysis has found that the cuts would push 250,000 people into poverty, including 50,000 children.
Speaking to The National, Stewart reaffirmed the Scottish Government's commitment to a welfare system based on the principles of "dignity, fairness and respect".
She said: "In Scotland, we're very proud that we support the social model when it comes to addressing disabled people.
"That means that we work very hard to make sure that the environment and the society that they live within – the barriers lie there, we have to limit those barriers, and that includes providing welfare support."
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She added that the UK Government's approach "appears to be doing the opposite, by making even further hurdles and undignified and demeaning processes to put off disabled people from claiming what is actually their right".
"If you look at Personal Independence Payments, for example, those are very demeaning processes," Stewart continued.
"Often disabled people have long-term conditions, they shouldn't have to go through those additional and humiliating experiences to explain time and time again.
"Where's the dignity in that?"
Stewart said the Scottish Government was "not following that model".
She said: "We believe in empowerment, we believe in supporting all of our citizens, and that includes disabled people.
"The UK Government should do the same."
Labour are facing anger from MPs on both sides of the benches over the cuts, with a significant number of their own MPs set to oppose them.
Meanwhile, on Thursday evening, Labour MP Vicky Foxcroft resigned from her position as a Government whip over the planned cuts, which she said were not "part of the solution" to the growing welfare bill.
MPs are set to debate the UK Government's welfare proposals on July 1.
