John Swinney has been urged to rein in the SNP’s “out-of-control” benefits bill, otherwise he will be forced to hike taxes once again on hard-pressed Scots.
Russell Findlay challenged the SNP leader at First Minister’s Questions insisting that reducing spending on state benefits should be the starting point to plug the £5billion gap in Scotland’s finances.
Highlighting Andy Burnham’s plans to water down the triple lock, Findlay said it was a rare moment where he agreed with Swinney.
However, he said unlike him he has a plan to make necessary savings and told Swinney that he has a clear choice to either cut benefits or raise taxes.
Findlay also highlighted recent comments which he agreed with by SNP social justice secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville who said that addressing poverty is best not done through social security spending but through skills and employment.
However, he said her remarks contrast with the SNP’s overall ‘light-touch’ approach which traps people on benefits.
Findlay went on to reveal evidence from a whistleblower about “rampant abuse” across Scotland’s benefits system.
This included the whistleblower being told to support applicants even after they admitted their claims were false, as well as seeing colleagues helping applicants abuse the system.
Findlay demanded to know why Swinney thinks his current approach is acceptable and says the SNP’s benefits bill is “unsustainable, unaffordable and unfair”.
Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay said: “John Swinney’s out-of-control benefits bill must be cut.
“If it’s not, then the SNP will yet again punish Scottish taxpayers.
“Reducing benefits should be the starting point for Swinney if he’s serious about the looming £5billion black-hole in Scotland’s finances.
“Andy Burnham’s plans to water down the triple lock is a rare point of agreement with the First Minister, but unlike Swinney we know where savings will be made.
“He has a clear choice between cutting benefits or raising taxes. It’s that simple.
“Even his own social justice secretary recognises the Conservative principle that the best way to address poverty is through skills and employment, not benefits.
“A whistleblower has laid bare numerous examples of rampant abuse within Scotland’s benefits system.
“Stories of advisers being told to support applicants even if their claims are false, or advisers telling claimants how to abuse the system.
“John Swinney says the SNP social security system is one of dignity, fairness and respect when it is actually unsustainable, unaffordable and unfair.”
