SNP MSP for Glasgow Kelvin, Kaukab Stewart has challenged local Labour MSPs Pam Duncan-Glancy, Pauline McNeil, Anas Sarwar and Paul Sweeney to back ending the two-child benefit cap after they united with the Tories to vote against a motion calling for action in the UK Budget to consign the hated policy to history.

In a vote on a motion on the Scottish Government’s Programme for Government, which has an acute focus on eradicating child poverty, Labour and Tory MSPs joined forces to reject the proposal that the two-child benefit limit be fixed by Westminster.

Commenting, SNP MSP Kaukab Stewart said:

“Labour MSPs in the Glasgow Region must now come clean on whether they support ending the two-child benefit cap which condemns thousands of children to poverty.

“The Better Together coalition united once more this week as Labour and Tory MSPs washed their hands of responsibility to end of of Westminster’s most damaging policies.

“The policies of the SNP Government are keeping 100,000 children out of poverty, while Labour accelerates austerity at Westminster – hampering the considerable progress of the Scottish Government to eradicate child poverty.

“Last week, First Minister John Swinney outlined his Programme for Government, where the clear priority is to end child poverty in Scotland. The sum of the opposition is to point the finger and avoid the blame while our kids suffer.

“Sir Keir Starmer says things can only get worse – but the SNP has a far greater ambition for our nation, which is rich in energy, resources and talent. Only with independence can Scotland escape the austerity agenda of Westminster control.”