The SNP voted with the Tories in parliament this week to block a Labour amendment to deliver a child benefit top up of £5 per week. SNP MSPs, with the support of the Conservatives, voted down the amendments by Scottish Labour which would have benefited almost 8,000 families in Dumbarton, Vale of Leven and Helensburgh.

Scottish Labour’s amendment would have delivered the ‘Give me 5’ campaign call to top-up child benefit. At the social security committee, the Tories and the SNP shamefully voted together against Labour’s plan.

Jackie said:

“The amendment from Labour would have delivered a child benefit top up of £5 per week. This would have helped families right across Scotland and would benefit almost 8,000 families here in Dumbarton, the Vale of Leven and Helensburgh.

“The SNP and the Tories shamefully voted together to block our proposal, showing their true colours. They had the opportunity to lift children out of poverty right across the country but instead they voted together to stop it