Scottish Labour have claimed it is the only party that would protect women and their families from cuts to tax credits.
Margaret Curran, the party’s shadow Scottish Secretary and candidate for Glasgow East, will warn today that the SNP’s plans for full fiscal autonomy would result in a £806 a year cut to tax credits.
Labour claim previous evidence from Conservative cuts to tax credits show that 80% of them affect women.
Ms Curran said her party had promised to increase tax credits every year in line with inflation, protecting women and their families.
Labour has vowed to increase the minimum wage to over £8 an hour, guarantee a paid job for every 18-24 year old woman out of work for more than a year and would use new devolved powers to legislate for a 50% quota for women on public boards.
Ms Curran said: “Tax credits protect people on low incomes and they lift people out of poverty.
“Labour will protect tax credits, with increases every year in line with inflation, supporting hard working families.
“The SNP’s plans for full fiscal autonomy – which they committed to in their manifesto – means cuts of £806 a year to tax credits.
“This is £15 a week for every family.
“Women can’t afford these cuts and all the evidence suggests these cuts will fall disproportionately on women.”
Ms Curran said Labour had a better plan to help and would also invest £2.3 million in women’s aid centres across Scotland.