Universal Credit cut is wrong move.

Byline: George Adam

Last week marked the end of the furlough scheme.

While this is obviously not what any of us in the Scottish Parliament want for our constituents, at the hands of the Tories in government this is the kind of behaviour we have unfortunately become all too accustomed to.

However after all the time I've spent in politics I shouldn't be surprised anymore when Westminster blindly pushes forward with their agenda no matter the human cost.

But I must be either naive or a true optimist as I had hoped against hope that Boris and his cronies would change their decision and continue the lifesaving scheme until we were out of the pandemic for good.

While the majority of industries are open again and life has moved into the 'new normal', it would be easy to think the furlough scheme is no longer necessary, but experts who have been urging the UK Government to continue with the payments predicted over 1 million people across the UK were still reliant on the scheme last week.

To simply leave these people without any wages after such a tumultuous year is unfathomable to me but this seems to be the way the Prime Minister does things now - takes money away from those who need it most exactly when they need it most.

We also can't forget that this is happening at the same time as Universal Credit is set to be cut by PS20 a week.

Unfortunately, the Scottish Government does not have the borrowing powers necessary to continue furlough and as many of you will be aware, Universal Credit is a UK wide benefit devolved to Westminster.

This is just one of the many reasons we as a people and a country must have the right to choose our own path and break free from a Government only concerned with themselves and their own interests.

The real human cost of ending furlough and the Universal Credit uplift at this critical time has left many charities and expert organisations very concerned and I for one am worried the impact this will have on people and families right here in our town.

Not that long ago Citizens Advice Scotland predicted the abrupt end to the scheme would plunge one in seven scots into an income crisis and a YouGov survey commissioned by the organisation found that ten per cent of adults are already finding it ''difficult'' to get by on their current income, with a further four per cent finding it ''very difficult''.

The charity then went onto warn that the situation will only get worse when Westminster forges ahead with plans to end furlough payments in September.

Well September has been and gone and Thursday marked the end of the scheme with nothing in place to prevent households from financial insecurity, worry and anxiety as we head into the winter months.

With costs set to rise and Government support all but gone, I am disgusted with the lack of concern or care the Tories have for vulnerable people here in Paisley and the rest of the country.

It is time to send a strong message that Scotland does not want to live this way any longer and would like the opportunity to build a fairer, more just country on her own.

I for one cannot wait for that day.

CAPTION(S):

Struggling People are already struggling before the cut to Universal Credit next week