DWP Boss Esther McVey - 'Like Talking to a Brick Wall' Say SNP

“My Constituent Was Sanctioned For A Heart Attack”

DWP Boss Ignoring Real Life Impact of Tory Policies.

DWP boss Esther McVey struggled through a Holyrood committee meeting as the real life impact of Tory welfare policies was laid bare.

SNP MSP George Adam raised the case of a constituent who had been sanctioned after suffering a heart attack – but was met with a brick wall as Ms McVey insisted the system was working.

After Ms McVey said that Universal Credit was fit for purpose, Mr Adam told her “with the greatest respect, that’s completely devoid from the real world.”

He continued: “In my constituency, I’ve got people who’ve been suffering constantly because of the roll-out. We’re not even a full roll-out area.

“What about people like my constituent, who ended up getting sanctioned because he had a heart attack and was in the Royal Alexandra Hospital?”

SNP MSP Ben MacPherson also said that he’d met constituents in tears due to DWP cuts and challenged Ms McVey to apologise to those affected, which she refused.

Commenting, George Adam said:

“That was like speaking to a brick wall – despite the overwhelming evidence of the negative impact of the Tory welfare agenda, Esther McVey just insisted that all was well.

“The fact is, the botched Universal Credit roll-out is having a devastating impact on many across the country – and that’s just the latest in a long line of Tory welfare cuts.

“With our limited powers over welfare, we’re building a Scottish social security agency with dignity and respect at its heart – and we’ve refused to use the discredited sanctions regime in our new employability service.

“But the extent of Westminster cuts to the welfare state show why we need full powers over social security in Scotland – not in the hands of the Tories.”

ABC Notes:

GA: “Do you believe, in your opinion, that Universal Credit in its current form is actually fit for purpose, or does it work?”

EM: “Universal Credit is fit for purpose…”

GA: “Secretary of State, with greatest respect, that’s completely devoid from the real world. Because in my constituency, I’ve got people who’ve been suffering constantly because of the roll-out. We’re not even a full roll-out area…

“What about people like my constituent, who ended up getting sanctioned because he had a heart attack and was in the Royal Alexandra Hospital?”

EM: “Should anybody have such an issue as you’ve described, with illness or a heart attack or a condition, something like that, they would have full mitigation and would not have any sanctions imposed upon them. We need to help those people and make sure it’s not a frightening experience, it’s a positive experience and get them the money they need, the support they need, and if it’s help to work, ensure that they get that best help…

GA: “But Secretary of State, I’m saying that in my experience that’s not happening. That isn’t happening out there with people. They’re not getting that support. The situation is they come to our constituency offices as their last best hope to try and help them. By that time, there’s already been problems. Specifically, in the case with the gentleman with the heart attack which we managed to sort out ourselves, but it shouldn’t get to that to that stage.”