Conservative MSPs in the north-east have been urged to reconsider their support for a controversial new rape clause.
Child welfare payments will now be capped at two children, unless the mother can prove a third child was conceived by rape or in an abusive relationship.
North-east charities Grampian Women’s Aid and Rape Crisis Grampian have already announced their refusal to collude with the UK Government welfare policy.
Now Aberdeenshire East MSP Gillian Martin has written to all five north-east Conservative MSPs – Alexander Burnett, Ross Thomson, Peter Chapman, Liam Kerr and Bill Bowman to ask them to reconsider supporting the stance.
In the letter, Ms Martin states: “The first piece of activism I ever did was for Rape Crisis and the women I met who have fought to recover their lives from that most heinous of crimes truly do not deserve this added humiliation.
“It can take years for a woman to even admit they have been raped and now they are expected to do so in order to receive what their child should be entitled to by way of tax credits.
“It begs the question, how can you expect victims of sexual abuse or rape to disclose the most difficult of personal circumstances, in order to receive a small sum of money and what effect do you think this will have on
their children and families?”
But Mr Thomson last night said his party stood by the policy.
He said: “The DWP has made clear women will be offered support from experienced third party professionals who will be able to support them on their behalf.
“In other words, once a mother registers for the benefit, it is very much in the hands of professionals to complete the application on her behalf and ensure the right support is given.
“At Holyrood, we now have the power to create new benefits so Gillian Martin’s party could, if it wanted, propose a new benefit to provide funding for families with more than two children.
“Of course this would have to be paid for, but the SNP Government can act if it believes this to be of such importance.”
An SNP spokeswoman said: “The fact is, this policy is unfair everywhere – and should be scrapped across the whole of the UK.”
