Keir Starmer urged by SNP to scrap ‘vile’ rape clause after review promise

SNP Calls on Keir Starmer to Abolish ‘Vile’ Rape Clause After Review Pledge

The SNP has urged the Labour Government to eliminate the “utterly vile” rape clause following a commitment made by Keir Starmer to reconsider the policy while in opposition. Rona Mackay, an SNP MSP, insisted that the Tory policy should be scrapped immediately and criticized the delays in conducting a review. The Conservative administration restricted certain means-tested benefits to only the first two children as part of a cost-saving measure. Women who conceived a third or subsequent child through rape are required to complete a form to access social security payments, a requirement that has been widely condemned by critics.

During an interview with the Daily Record in May, Starmer expressed the intention to review the rape clause if Labour were to win the election, stating, “We will obviously have to review that. If we do have the privilege of winning there are a number of things that we will obviously want to come back to.” Despite Starmer becoming Prime Minister, the rape clause has not been revisited. In a letter addressed to Liz Kendall, the Labour Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Mackay emphasized, “The SNP has opposed this cruel Tory policy at every step. We had hoped that a UK Labour government would make good on its election promises but have seen no evidence to suggest this is the case. For the sake of the thousands of women and children directly affected, I hope you will finally scrap this damaging policy as a matter of urgency.”

Statistics from 2023 revealed that 2,590 households had to prove they were victims of sexual assault to qualify for additional benefits. The two-child benefit cap impacts 1.6 million children across the UK, according to the latest data from the Department of Work and Pensions.

In conclusion, the SNP is increasing pressure on the Labour Government to act decisively on the controversial rape clause policy, highlighting the impact it has on women and children across the country.

Insights and Summary:

The article discusses the calls from the SNP for Prime Minister Keir Starmer to eliminate the rape clause, a controversial policy that requires women who have conceived a child through rape to provide proof in order to access social security payments. Despite promises to review the policy while in opposition, Starmer has yet to take action on it since becoming Prime Minister. The SNP’s stance reflects their ongoing opposition to the policy, citing the harm and trauma it causes to individuals affected by it. The article sheds light on the political pressure and moral responsibility involved in addressing such sensitive and critical issues impacting vulnerable members of society.