Austerity was sold by the Tories as a tough but necessary course of action.
But, in reality, it was a political decision aimed at slashing the state – no matter the human cost.
Created by former chancellor George Osborne and ex-prime minister David Cameron – and enthusiastically carried on by their successors – it saw spending slashed across all UK Government departments from 2010 onwards.
The reforms carried out to the welfare state remain among the most controversial as they severely impacted those living with the least.
Not content with introducing Universal Credit, the Tories dreamed up a wheeze so bad no other comparable country has thought to introduce it.
Child benefits would be restricted to the first two children born in a family and a third offspring would not receive welfare payments.
The policy took effect five years ago this month and about one million families across the UK have been affected as a result. It was a dreadful idea, even by Osborne’s low standards.
Expert research published last week found it also didn’t achieve its core, cruel goal – to discourage poorer families from having more children.
More than half of the people surveyed had never even heard of the two-child cap.
This vindictive policy’s sole achievement was to make hard-up families even worse off.
The SNP is right to call for the UK Government to scrap the cap.
As the cost-of-living crisis escalates, it’s high time those in Downing Street did something positive for hard-pressed parents.
Balancing act
Statistics can help deliver a very powerful message – but don’t always tell us everything.
However, a £236 million increase in spending to fill staffing gaps in nursing ranks is instructive of a system that is suboptimal.
Of course, there will always be a need for agency and bank nurses to cover NHS shortfalls.
The Covid-19 pandemic would have most certainly contributed to the recent 22.4% rise in agency nurses being drafted in at the taxpayers’ expense.
It is vital that the Scottish Government and NHS Scotland ensure there is no profligacy with funds – whether through prudent incentives for agency staff to join the health service or better forward-planning.
Nursing staff do incredible work for their patients on a daily basis and need support from those who lead them.
Otherwise the public will be hit by a double whammy of inadequate care because of poor staffing levels and will be left with a huge bill to pay for a short-term fix.
