Benefits reform 'rape clause' must be challenged, union chief says

Trade unionists have been urged to "openly challenge" the so-called rape clause in UK benefits reforms.

Helen Connor, president of the Scottish Trades Union Congress, joined those speaking out against the "abhorrent" policy, introduced by the Conservative government at Westminster.

Ms Connor claimed the introduction of the policy showed the Tories cannot be trusted as she criticised both Prime Minister Theresa May and Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson.

Ms Davidson has come under fire for refusing to condemn the policy, which is part of welfare reforms introduced in April which mean child tax credits are now capped at two children.

A clause in the new rules means mothers who have a third child as a result of rape can be exempted but would have to provide evidence in order to do so.

The so-called rape clause has caused a political row north of the border and has been described as ''disgusting'' by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.

The STUC president said: "What kind of society do we live in that thinks that kind of treatment of women and children is acceptable?"

With Mrs May having called a snap election on June 8, Ms Connor said: "I tell you what slogan cannot be used in the next seven weeks - Trust Theresa."

She added: "Trust the Tories - I don't think so. How can we trust her on employment rights? How can we trust her with our pensions? How can we trust someone who thinks it is right to have a rape clause in the welfare system?

"Shame on her and shame on Ruth Davidson, who has consistently refused to condemn it."

Ms Connor, who was speaking at the STUC annual congress in Aviemore, said the trade union movement must campaign over the coming weeks to "ensure that the next UK government is one which has the interests of working people at heart".

She added: "We must work together, as a movement, to ensure that the Tories do not form the next government.

"It is very difficult to look at the last year and not mention election of Donald Trump, the chaos this has caused and the legitimacy it has given to the rise of the political right across the world.

"Again I go back to our role to challenge. It is not good enough to abhor his views, Le Pen's views, Ukip's views from the sidelines. We must be up front as a movement in our challenge to them.

"We also have to openly challenge the abhorrent rape clause in the recent child benefit forms.

"Ruth Davidson should be ashamed of herself for acting as an apologist for this abhorrent policy."

Ms Connor's comments came after Scottish Conservative deputy leader Jackson Carlaw conceded the so-called rape clause "is an awkward policy".

Mr Carlaw said: "'Every form of welfare benefit reform is difficult, it touches on sensitive issues, back in 2015 we were committed to welfare reform and one of those reforms was that there would be child tax credits for the first two children in each family.

''After that we felt that it was appropriate there should be a number of exemptions, multiple births was one of them, children adopted from care was another, and also any child that was subsequently born as a result of non-consensual sex.

''We think that it is right that benefit is attached but I accept that it is an awkward policy.''

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