Nearly 20,000 thousand children in West Dunbartonshire and Argyll and Bute are at risk from Tory cuts to tax credits according to shocking figures released by local MSP Jackie Baillie.

With the Tory Government looking to slash £12 billion from the welfare bill, tax credits like child tax credit and working tax credit are in the firing line, risking vital income to 10,500 families in West Dunbartonshire and Argyll and Bute.

Jackie has blasted Tory plans to cut tax credits, first introduced by the last Labour Government to tackle in work poverty.

The MSP also urged the SNP Government in Edinburgh to adopt Scottish Labour plans to tackle poverty, by extending the living wage and banning rip off rent rises in the private sector.

Jackie said:

“During the general election the Prime Minister promised the ‘good life’ for families but now he plans to cut vital support for families in Argyll and Bute, West Dunbartonshire and across the UK

“With thousands of families in Scotland struggling from week to week the last people the Chancellor should target is low income families, but instead his plans to slash welfare puts thousands of local children at risk.

“The last Labour Government introduced tax credits to tackle working poverty, and it worked.  There are thousands of people in Dumbarton, Vale of Leven and Helensburgh who can attest to that.

“Recently, new information has shown that over 200,000 children in Scotland are living in poverty -; on what planet does slashing tax credits help those kids?

“The SNP Government in Edinburgh need to stand up for these families. New powers coming to Scotland will help but there is so much more that could be done at Holyrood now.

“The SNP should back Scottish Labour plans to extend the living wage to more low paid jobs like cleaning, catering and caring. With rents and poverty levels soaring in our private rented sector the SNP Government should also back Scottish Labour plans to ban rip off rent rises.

“Families  in West Dunbartonshire and Helensburgh and Lomond need action, not warm words from the Scottish Government.”