Scots MPs lobbied on Welfare Reform Bill

LEADING charities, faith groups and trade unions have written to Scottish MPs urging them to vote to uphold a series of amendments to the controversial Welfare Reform Bill.

The Westminster government has been defeated six times by the House of Lords, but is so far refusing to listen to the deep concerns of people living with poverty, disability, sickness and multiple disadvantages.

The Scottish Campaign on Welfare Reform, an umbrella body of more than 60 organisations, has called on MPs to ratify the six amendments to the Welfare Reform Bill in the Commons on 1st February 2012.

The SCWR, with members including the Scottish Trades’ Union Congress, Oxfam, Child Poverty Action Group in Scotland and the Church of Scotland’s Church and Society Council, warned a reversal of the amendments would have dire consequences for more than half a million people.

Disabled activists have played a major role in highlighting a range of cuts and injustices in the current WRB proposals, and are demanding a genuine say in decisions directly impacting their lives.