Church of Scotland joins Scottish charities to say Scottish MPs must stand against social security cuts
Published on 26 June 2025 1 minute read
The Church of Scotland is joining more than 100 charities and civil society organisations to tell Scottish MPs that it's not too late to change course on controversial social security cuts.
A joint letter has been written to Scottish Secretary Ian Murray and copied to all of Scotland's MPs at Westminster.
The signatories point to estimates that 400,000 people will be pushed into poverty if the changes to Personal Independence Payments and Universal Credit go ahead.
They warned that will mean destitution and misery for many sick and disabled people, as well as others in their households – including children and unpaid carers
Peter Kelly, chief executive of The Poverty Alliance said:
"People are desperate for the UK Government to deliver a just and compassionate society – but these proposals will deliver the opposite. If enacted, these cuts will mean more disabled people living in poverty, relying on foodbanks, and pushed into destitution. That's not the change people voted for at the last general election."
In the letter they say:
"This is a question of about the kind of society we want to be. Scotland is a country that believes in justice and compassion and people want our governments to make decisions which align with those values.
"We urge Ministers to drop these proposals. We urge Scottish MPs to vote against these cuts, sending a strong, positive message to disabled people and carers in Scotland that this Government will build a country free from poverty, not one that forces people into deeper poverty and destitution."
MPs are expected to get their first chance to vote on the cuts in the Commons on 1 July. The Government is facing defeat after dozens of Labour MPs signalled their opposition.
