Yesterday (6th May 2025), Edinburgh North and Leith Labour MP Tracy Gilbert, urged the UK government to officially recognise the state of Palestine, warning that any further delay could result in the loss of a viable Palestinian state, that includes Gaza.
The call followed announcements from the Israeli Security Cabinet over the weekend to expand and intensify Israel’s military operation across the entire Gaza Strip, potentially leading to a full military occupation.
In a statement made in the House of Commons by the Minister for the Middle East, Hamish Falconer MP, Gilbert said, “Now I fear that if we do not recognise a Palestinian state, there will be no Palestinian state that includes Gaza left to be recognised.”
Ms Gilbert’s position has been reinforced by her visits to Israel and Occupied Palestine, which have deepened her belief in the urgency of recognition as part of the process to secure a ceasefire and lasting peace through a two-state solution.
Palestine Red Crescent Society teams and volunteers provide first aid services and psychological first aid to families returning on foot to northern Gaza. PRCS volunteers are also distributing water and leaflets to raise awareness about unexploded objects.
Following the statement, Tracy Gilbert MP said, “I know that the actions of the Israeli government in this conflict have alarmed my constituents.
“I have seen first-hand the state of ruin that large parts of Gaza are now left in. And after two months of blockading vital aid, essential supplies of food and medicine are low, leading to a humanitarian crisis.
“Recognising the state of Palestine is an essential step in helping to bring about the conditions for a ceasefire and long-term security through a two-state solution. I will continue to urge the UK government to recognise Palestine immediately and to place further pressure on the Israeli government to bring them to the negotiating table.”
Poverty Alliance: ‘People in Scotland are demanding better’
The NHS will deliver 100,000 additional GP appointments and Scotland will have a ‘best in UK’ cost-of-living guarantee, including the permanent abolition of peak rail fares, First Minister John Swinney announced as he set out a Programme for Government against a backdrop of global economic challenges.
Speaking one year since he was elected First Minister and one year before the end of this Parliament, Mr Swinney committed to a package of cost-of-living initiatives for households and businesses and a new Six Point Export Plan to unlock target markets.
He set out plans to strengthen the NHS with the delivery of extra GP appointments for key health risks such as high blood pressure, and 150,000 more NHS appointments and procedures, including a 50% increase in surgical procedures such as hip and knee replacements.
Key announcements include:
100,000 enhanced service GP appointments by March 2026 for key risk factors including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, high blood sugar, obesity and smoking as well as more than 150,000 extra appointments and procedures, including surgeries and diagnostic tests, and target cancer pathways to tackle backlogs against the 62-day referral to treatment standard
The cost-of-living guarantee which includes ongoing free prescriptions, eye exams, bus travel for 2.3 million people, free tuition for students and more than £6,000 in early learning and childcare support for each eligible child
ScotRail peak rail fares abolished and the general alcohol ban on ScotRail trains removed and replaced with time and location restrictions
Winter fuel payments for pensioners restored
A new Six Point Export Plan, with a focus on actions to unlock target markets, and showcase Scotland to global buyers
A national regeneration fund that will support at least 26 projects to renew and restore communities, with a focus on delivering more local jobs
More rights and stronger protections for tenants, helping deliver more than 8,000 affordable homes, including for social and mid-market rent, and removing barriers on stalled building sites with the potential to deliver up to 20,000 new homes
The First Minister said: “This Programme for Government is focused on providing the best cost-of-living support across the UK, as well as delivering a renewed and stronger NHS.
“When I became First Minister a year ago, I heard loud and clear people’s concerns about the NHS which is why I am taking serious action to ensure the NHS meets the needs of the public.
“This PfG also shows decisive action to protect Scotland’s economy and maximise our economic potential in the face of global challenges.
“It is being published earlier than usual, in part because it allows a clear year of delivery on the NHS and other public services, but also due to the scale of the looming economic challenge.
“It is a programme for a better Scotland, for a stronger NHS and a more resilient and wealthier Scotland. It is a Programme for Government that gets our nation on track for success.”
POVERTY ALLIANCE: Government programme misses need for fundamental change
Commenting on the Programme for Government, Poverty Alliance chief executive Peter Kelly said: “Many of today’s announcements are welcome, but the package doesn’t go far enough towards creating a just and compassionate Scotland where people have what they need to build a life beyond poverty.
“More and more people in Scotland believe the system is rigged against them and their families. And they’re right.
“Scrapping peak rail fares for good will help many people on low incomes, but many, many more are still being left with unaffordable buses that don’t meet their needs.
“It’s welcome that this programme turns its back on previous cuts to affordable homes, but we urgently need more investment to create a social housing programme that will bring the scandal of child homelessness to an end.
“Reversing the effect of the unjust two-child limit for households in Scotland is the right thing to do, but there was no sign of a pledge to raise the Scottish Child Payment – never mind raising it to the £40 a week that we know is needed to meet our legal child poverty targets.
“And it was good to hear the First Minister talking about sharing Scotland’s growing wealth more fairly, but the Government simply can’t do that without using its powers over investment and taxation.
“People in Scotland are demanding better, and they want a Scottish Govt that will make the big, fundamental changes that will empower households to build a better life for themselves and a better future for all of us.”
STUC: Scrapping peak fares is a victory for workers in Scotland
Commenting on the scrapping of peak rail fares within the Scottish Government’s Programme for Government, STUC Deputy General Secretary Dave Moxham said:“This is deeply welcome news that, whilst long overdue, shows the strength of campaigners and rail unions in demanding an affordable and accessible rail network that is fit for the future.
“This is a clear victory for workers in Scotland and it’s commendable the Scottish Government has listened to the voices of our movement – and listened to their own evidence – which showed the positive impact of scrapping peak fares.
“Peak fares were, simply put, a tax on workers that hit commuters directly in the pocket. We can now ensure we build an interconnected, cheaper and greener rail networks that puts people before profit and puts peak fares out of commission for good.”
Children First: First Minister missed another chance by not increasing Scottish child payment
Children First statement on Scottish Government Programme for Government
Mary Glasgow, chief executive of Children first, said: “We hoped the First Minister would bring bold, ambitious plans to tackle the crippling levels of child poverty in Scotland. Instead, the Programme for Government, while well-intentioned, lacked real action. The First Minister missed another chance to help families by not increasing the Scottish Child Payment to £40.
“While we recognise the Scottish Government’s commitment to eradicating child poverty, supporting whole families and improving mental health support for young people, we are deeply concerned that it lacks urgency and the necessary financial resources and policy ambition.
“Scotland is facing a childhood emergency. The children and families we support cannot wait another 12 months for yet another fresh approach.
“They need action now.”
ALBA Party: Scotland “won’t accept” the Scottish Government’s decision to omit independence from its Programme for Government, says Ash Regan
For the second year in a row First Minister John Swinney has failed to mention independence in his Programme for Government with the document not setting out any plans to give Scots a choice on their future in the remainder of the current Parliament.
The SNP were re-elected in 2021 promising a referendum would be held during the life of the current Parliament but after the Supreme Court ruled against the Scottish Parliament’s ability to do so the Scottish Government have taken no action to find a path to giving the people of Scotland a choice on their future.
Alba’s Ash Regan wanted to see First Minister John Swinney set out the actions his Government will take to advance the case for Scottish independence in the run up to next year’s Scottish Parliament elections. But she has hit out as the Government has confirmed today that the only action it will take in the next year will be the publication of another independence paper.
The Alba MSP says that the Scottish Government’s plan for how it intends to progress the case for Scottish independence should have featured “front and centre” of John Swinney’s plans and the failure to do so is a “missed opportunity.”
Last year, in his first ever PfG as First Minister, John Swinney did not make reference to independence when he addressed parliament and in his speech today he again failed to reference any actions his Government would take to help deliver independence.
Commenting Alba Party Holyrood leader Ash Regan MSP said: “Last year the word ‘independence’ was not mentioned once in the Programme for Government statement to Parliament. Since then we have witnessed consistent polling showing that at least half the country favour independence.
“The failure to put independence front and centre of today’s Programme for Government is a wasted opportunity. The people of Scotland are now ahead of the SNP when it’s comes to independence and that is why we have seen a separation of support for independence and support for the SNP.
“Scots want to see a drive towards governing competently again and focus to be put back onto the people’s agenda of health, the economy, jobs and the protection of women and children.
“The case for independence has never been stronger, it is now vital we see support for Alba Party on the list to ensure the SNP don’t see out another term of Parliament without taking action on independence.”
RCEM: Scotland’s Programme for Government a ‘missed opportunity’ to tackle UEC crisis
After enduring another challenging winter, Scotland’s Programme for Government has failed to deliver a tangible plan to address the emergency care crisis. That’s the response from the Royal College of Emergency Medicine after the First Minister, John Swinney, delivered a speech today (6 May 2025) which laid out his government’s key pledges for the final year of the Scottish Parliament’s current term.
Reducing time patients wait for treatment by delivering more than 150,000 extra appointments and procedures, including surgeries and diagnostic tests.
Ensuring more people can see their GP and get cared for in the community – reducing pressures in hospitals
Ensuring more people can be cared for at home, reducing pressures in hospitals by expanding the number of Hospital at Home beds to at least 2,000 by December 2026.
Mr Swinney’s speech coincided with the release of new data by Public Health Scotland which revealed in March, there was an average of 1,925 people waiting to be discharged from hospital, despite being deemed medically well enough to go home.
That’s the highest number of so called ‘delayed discharges’ for the month of March since guidelines changed in 2016.
This is often caused due to a lack of social care support. Therefore, the system grinds to a halt, with patients stuck in Emergency Departments, often on trolleys in corridors, facing extreme waits because there’s no in-patient beds available.
Today’s figures, which cover March 2025, also show:
120,143 people attended a major Emergency Department in Scotland – a 17.7% increase when compared to February.
One in three patients waited four hours or more in Emergency Departments, one in 9 waited eight hours or more, and one in 23 waited 12 hours or more.
While waits have slightly improved across the board when compared to February, they are significantly higher when compared to March 2018. The numbers waiting four hours or more has increased by 158%, the numbers waiting more than eight hours by 490%, and the numbers waiting more than 12 hours by 803%.
There was a total of 60,129 days spent in hospital by people whose discharge was delayed – a 2.5% increase compared to March 2024 (58,646).
Dr Fiona Hunter, Vice President of RCEM Scotland said, “Today’s Programme for Government is a missed opportunity. It was a moment to resuscitate emergency care but instead, we have been left without a tangible plan.
“You just have to simply look at today’s figures from Public Health Scotland to see the level of pressure our Emergency Departments our under – thousands of people waiting extreme and dangerous long stays, often on trolleys, in corridors, because there are no available beds on wards for them to move to.
“And let’s be clear – these aren’t just numbers, data, statistics. Each is a loved family member – mums, dads, grandparents, sons, daughters.
“While we welcome the government’s commitment to improving access to GPs, this can’t be done in isolation. Equal attention is needed at the ‘back door’ of hospitals – ensuring patients who are well enough to be discharged, can be, with the appropriate social care in place.
“Only then will our patients be able to move as they should throughout the hospital system, rather than experiencing significant delays.
“Our members and their colleagues will be deeply disappointed after enduring another challenging winter. It’s left us asking, when will Emergency Care become a political priority?”
Greens hail peak rail fares U-turn and call for cheaper buses
The Scottish Greens have welcomed the Scottish Government’s decision to finally take forward the Green policy of scrapping peak rail fares for good, and have called for action to make public transport cheaper across the board.
The policy was initially secured by the Scottish Greens through budget negotiations in 2023 before being dropped by the SNP in 2024.
In the 2025 budget the Greens secured a £2 bus fare cap that the Government has committed to rolling out as a regional pilot project by January 2026.
Speaking in the Scottish Government’s Programme for Government 2025-26 debate today at Holyrood, the party’s co-leader, Lorna Slater, said: “I am delighted that the Government has finally committed to the Scottish Green policy of ending peak rail fares for good.
“Earlier this year, they said they wouldn’t do it. They even voted against Green calls to do it. We’ve finally got there.
“More brave decisions are needed to make all public transport cheaper.
“The Scottish Government agreed to Green proposals for a £2 bus cap, only as a local pilot from January 2026, but people all across Scotland need cheaper buses now.
“Will the First Minister avoid the hesitation he showed over peak rail fares, get on with delivering another great Green idea: capping the price of bus fares in Scotland for good?”
Independent Age: No New Support for Older People in Poverty
Debbie Horne, Scotland Policy and Public Affairs Manager at Independent Agesaid: “Today’s Programme for Government announced no new support for older people in poverty.
“Making sure every pensioner in Scotland receives some winter heating support is very welcome, particularly for older people on lower incomes. However, there is more the Scottish Government should do to reduce the growing number of pensioners in poverty.
“With 156,000 older people across Scotland currently living in poverty – an increase of 30% the last decade – the need for a clear strategy to address this is more urgent that ever. Our polling shows that people of all ages in Scotland agree that a strategy to reduce pensioner poverty should be created – with 9 in 10 supporting the idea. Without one, people facing financial hardship in later life will continue to struggle to maintain even the most basic quality of life.
“Poverty at any age is extremely damaging to both mental and physical wellbeing. Our 2025 Index showed that nearly one in five (19%) older people in Scotland have a household income of under £15,000 a year and almost one in three (29%) older people in Scotland have skipped meals in the last 12 months.
“In a compassionate and wealthy society, this shouldn’t be the case. Both the UK and Scottish Governments need to take action. If the Scottish Government wants to make Scotland the best place to grow old and tackle the injustice of pensioner poverty it is essential they have a plan for doing so.”
REFORM UK’s Sarah Pochin won the Runcorn and Helsby by-election by just SIX votes following a knife-edge recount this morning.
Former Conservative councillor Sarah Pochin overturned a 14,696 Labour majority to take the Cheshire seat for Reform UK, originally called the Brexit Party when it was founded in 2018.
Reform UK now has five MPs and the party has made sweeping gains across England in the council elections, winning more seats than any other party in results declared so far.
The Runcorn by-election was called following the conviction of former Labour MP Mike Amesbury, who was captured on film assaulting a constituent.
Petroineos, the company which runs the refinery, has informed staff that all oil refining work at Grangemouth had ended.
Workers were told by email yesterday: ‘With the shutdown of CDU2 today, Grangemouth Refinery will cease processing crude oil and the era of refining at Grangemouth comes to an end.’
The news of the final confirmation of the site has come as a hammer blow to staff and is the latest nail in the coffin of Scottish industry.
Reacting to the news that oil refining at Grangemouth has ended Alba Party Leader Kenny MacAskill said:“This is a dark day for Scotland and a betrayal of the workforce by Labour. At the election, they promised to save the refinery but have gone back on that pledge whilst at the same saving British Steel in Scunthorpe.
“Labour have cynically pocketed the votes of the workers and then abandoned them once elected. This is a betrayal for which Labour will never be forgiven.
“Scotland is now the only major oil producing nation in the world not to have its own refining capacity.
“The skills of the workforce have been sacrificed and Grangemouth reduced to an import export terminal.
“This is the cost of the Union and demonstrates how Scotland is powerless without Independence.
“Independence is required so we can protect what is left of Scottish industry and put Scottish workers first.”
The UK Labour Westminster government and the SNP Holyrood government have yet to make an official statement on the end of oil refining at Grangemouth.
The Presiding Officer visited Mayfield and Easthouses in Lothian yesterday to meet local people to talk about their Scottish Parliament.
The Lothian visit is the last in a series of eight events across Scotland to mark the Scottish Parliament’s 25th anniversary.
The aim of event is to hear people’s reflections on the Parliament and to understand more about what they want from their Parliament in the future. It was also an opportunity to reflect on 25 years of devolution and the impact of the Parliament on local communities.
Yesterday’s event began with a visit to the Mayfield and Easthouses Development Trust. The Presiding Officer, joined by constituency and regional MSPs from the Lothian Region, met with service users, volunteers and staff in their pavilion and café in Mayfield Public Park before visiting their Hub and Pantry.
Following this there was an event at Mayfield and Easthouses Church Hall where the politicians met representatives from local groups and projects.
The visit ended in Mayfield Community Club where Nourish Scotland hosted a public diner lunch.
Speaking ahead of the visit, Presiding Officer, the Rt Hon Alison Johnstone MSP said: “I’m looking forward to meeting local residents and listening to their thoughts on the Parliament and their hopes for its future.
“We have met people across the entire country to commemorate the Parliament’s 25th anniversary, and visited inspirational community projects, from Shetland to Hawick.
“I’m pleased we’ve partnered with local groups on this visit to Mayfield and Easthouses, and I’m sure we’ll have great discussions about how the Parliament can best represent people in Lothian. I’m also excited to hear more about the various community projects that are taking place here.
“Scotland’s Parliament belongs to its people and it’s vital their voices are heard, to help shape the Parliament’s future.”
Sharon Hill from Mayfield and Easthouses Development Trust said: “We are delighted to be facilitating the visit today.
“Being chosen for the final visit has been lovely for us. We are proud of the community and people we serve in Mayfield and Easthouses and are keen to engage with the Parliament to show them what is being done here and how we are fostering a sense of community pride through that work.
“This is a fantastic opportunity for our community and all the groups and organisations that are active within it to show what they do and how they can be best supported to be even better.”
Abigail McCall, Policy Officer at Nourish Scotland said: “We’re excited to host and join a lunch in Lothian. Food is always a good way to get people talking about the things that matter most to our everyday lives.
“For the past year, we’ve been travelling around Scotland talking with different communities about creating infrastructure for food – public diners – that mean our right to food can be protected and that people can have a hand in shaping their food environment.
“This public diner lunch is a great way to facilitate discussion around issues, but also potential solutions in the local area.”
Recently, John Swinney announced that he would bring the 2025-26 Programme for Government to 6th May, which will situate the PfG exactly one year before the Holyrood election in May 2026 ((writes Fraser of Allander Institute’s MAIRI SPOWAGE)..
Normally, the Programme for Government is the annual opportunity for the Scottish Government to set out its policy priorities and the legislation it plans to pass in the coming year. This is usually published just after the return from the Summer recess, setting out both political statements and policy priorities but also (importantly) the legislation that the Government wishes to progress during the parliamentary year.
The First Minister has said he is bringing the statement forward to “enable a full year of delivery” before the Holyrood election.
The PfG that was set out in September was the first opportunity for John Swinney and Kate Forbes to set out their agenda since taking the leadership in Spring 2024. Our thoughts at the time are here – but broadly we welcomed the clear statement of the government’s prioritisation and what they would put first (tackling child poverty) above all else. Whether the government’s spending and policy decisions have actually been consistent with that may be a matter for debate.
Given the relatively short time that have elapsed since John Swinney’s first PfG as FM, there will be significant scrutiny of the document published on the 6th May – how have the policy priorities changed? What was promised in September which has now been sidelined in the run up to the election? And, given the limited legislative time left between now and March, what legislation has a realistic chance of making it through before the parliamentary session comes to an end.
Look out for our analysis on 6th May on the PfG!
Further fiscal fun in May
The PfG won’t be the last opportunity fo the Scottish Government to set out policy priorities.
On the fiscal side, the SG will publish the Medium-Term financial Strategy (MTFS) on 29th May. This will be accompanied by new forecasts from the Scottish Fiscal Commission, and is the SFC’s opportunity to produce forecasts that are consistent with the OBR forecasts that were produced alongside the Spring Statement in March.
In terms of the forecasts, we can expect (probably) that the view of the SFC on growth prospects for this year are likely to have worsened. The OBR in their forecasts in March cut growth for 2025 from 2% to 1%, and a number of independent forecasters have cut the forecast for the UK significantly. This is because of the impact of global uncertainty and turmoil, but also due to policy decisions by the UK Government such as the employer national Insurance increase.
The MTFS itself aims to focus on the longer-term sustainability of Scotland’s public finances and support a strategic approach to financial planning. The publication of this document alongside the Spring forecast is supposed to support the year round budgeting process in Holyrood, allowing the pre-budget scrutiny of committees in the Summer and Autumn to be based on up to date and meaningful information.
However, the MTFS to date has not really been successful in achieving these aims. It appears to be a strategic document, but has more often than not felt like a political statement, more aimed at managing expectations of what might be funded than in setting out a credible central scenario.
One of the issues with the MTFS is that there is no detail on how the spending projections contained within it are arrived at, and therefore it is impossible to scrutinise the priority of each and how realistic they are. When we come to try and understand the net fiscal position, we are often unable to reconcile the MTFS with any in-year spending changes. This throws into question its usefulness as a document. It is also why it has largely been abandoned by those scrutinising the Scottish Government – especially when it has not always been published when it was due.
See our commentary on the last version of this published in May 2023.
In addition to the MTFS, The Scottish Government said it will publish a Fiscal Sustainability Delivery Plan alongside the MTFS 2025 for the first time. The Government say this will support fiscal transparency and a foundation for longer-term financial planning, and announced this in the Autumn in the run up to a debate about fiscal sustainability in the Scottish Parliament.
The MTFS is supposed to address fiscal sustainability, and the fact that the Scottish Government is creating a separate one casts doubt on the usefulness and the seriousness with which the SG treats the MTFS – and therefore how seriously we should treat it.
However, let’s see what it contains, and we will analyse the contents in detail when it is produced on 29th May. We would expect that it will say something about pay and the size and shape of the public sector in Scotland. Given that around half of Scottish Government current spending is on pay, any long-term-focussed document that does not have a specific view on the size of employment and rate of growth in payroll over a number of years cannot be regarded as credible.
We understand there are also other documents that are likely to come over the summer, such as a plan for Public Service Reform, and a plan for a shift to prevention, particularly on public health.
The issues on pay and public sector size are very relevant to Public Service Reform as well as fiscal sustainability, as it is likely that we will have to drive reform which delivers more productive public services with fewer people than work in the public sector today.
Human rights in the UK in crisis as new report exposes crushing evidence of a social security system ruining lives
Discrimination and dehumanisation reported as rife as punitive system drives poverty by policy
‘They told me to go in for an assessment, and my baby had passed away… not even two days before…. And they were like, well if you need the money, you will come in. It’s not my fault your baby is dead’ – Claimant
‘I would often be asked the same question three times to see if I’d change my answer. The process feels like you are on trial for murder, they act like they are trying to catch you out and that you are begging’ – Peter
‘Lives are being ruined by a system that is consciously cruel – it erodes dignity by design. We are in a state of severe human rights violations’– Jen Clark, Amnesty
Amnesty International UK’s new report takes a deep dive into the murky and divisive world of the UK social security system. The unique research is an extensive look through the lens of human rights violations across our basic rights to housing, food, education, healthcare and social security.
The evidence delivers damning conclusions on how the system processes, punishes, harms and dehumanises people and fails to meet international legal obligations. Successive UK governments have ignored the UN’s pleas to take urgent action to fix this.
Poverty is a visible sign of a failing social security system. When the government knowingly makes choices to make poverty worse, it is deliberately violating basic human rights. We have moved from a society that supports people to a punitive system that drives poverty by policy.
The rate of poverty in the UK is now higher than at any point in the 21st century. Sixteen million people in the UK are living in families in poverty – almost a quarter of the UK*. Of these, 5.2 million are children, 9.2 million are working-age adults, and 1.5 million are pension-age adults.
For its report ‘Social Insecurity’Amnesty’s collaborated with over 700 benefit claimants and advisors to provide a platform for the people most gravely affected and show how politicians are playing with people’s lives and ignoring our most basic rights. In 2024 86% of low-income families on Universal Credit went without essentials such as heating, food and clothing.
With the backdrop of the Spring Statement and devastating disability social security cuts, Amnesty’s report delivers a crushing blow of evidence on the UK’s social security system and political choices that have pushed people into poverty and centres real-life experiences throughout, demonstrating the depth of dehumanisation.
Recommendations from the report
System overhaul: A landmark, independent Social Security Commission with statutory powers to overhaul the UK’s broken benefits system—rooted in dignity and human rights.
Urgent protection from harm: The UK Government to urgently reverse harmful social security cuts, sanctions and caps including the two-child limit and ensure upcoming reforms of PIP, ESA and Universal Credit, meet international human rights standards and are shaped by those most affected.
Legal protections: The UK Government to put in place legal frameworks protecting economic, social and cultural rights to ensure everyone’s basic human rights to food, housing, and dignity are protected in law and prevent failures in social security policy from causing wider harms.
Sections of the report expose
Systemic failures and lack of dignity and respect: Reports of hostile attitudes and judgmental behaviour within the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) illustrate systemic shortcomings. The current system fails to meet its obligations to treat claimants with humanity and compassion, contributing to distrust and trauma of vulnerable individuals.
“Client had a Personal Independent Payment claim terminated as they would only offer a telephone appointment, despite them being profoundly deaf”. (Social Security Advisor)
“They told me to go in for an assessment, and my baby had passed away. Like not even two days before…. And they were like, well if you need the money, you will come in. It’s not my fault your baby is dead”. (Claimant)
Restricted access to Social Security and discriminatory practices
There are discriminatory conditions that restrict access for marginalised groups, inadequate transparency in eligibility criteria, and insufficient efforts to ensure effective, fair and transparent appeal processes.
“Every time someone is assessed inappropriately for benefits, it takes extra time and money for the mistake to be corrected. Most often the claimants suffer, but the taxpayers also suffer owing to the additional administration and resolution costs which need to be met”. (Advisor)
Social Security advisors across the country described how difficult access to information about entitlements and processes are. 64% of advisors rated it very difficult or difficult to get access to information on Universal Credit, and 68% of advisors said the same for PIP and 58% for ESA.
Of 416 claimants who responded to the question, 52% rated access to Social Security schemes as difficult or very difficult.
Unjust and ill-informed decisions on sanctions and deductions
23% of the claimants who completed Amnesty research had experienced being sanctioned or having a deduction. Within this, 78% of people said it worsened their mental health. 55% told us they reduced the food they ate and 35% went without food. 47% of people stated that it worsened their physical health. 44% of people told us they were forced to borrow money to make ends meet.
“Client lost benefits and home after being turned down for not attending the assessment as he soiled himself on the train to assessment centre and had to go home”. (Advisor)
“I’ve been sanctioned loads of time because I’m working. Borrowed off my sister and mother. Without them, I would probably be dead in the gutter because I couldn’t afford to live” (Claimant)
“They look down on you when you walk into the job centre. I had a panic attack in the job centre. I couldn’t breathe, and she went “you better get upstairs now and see your work coach, or we are going to sanction you” (Claimant)
“The actual interview is on the phone when they talk to you. They only give you one call…. If you missed that one call, they sanction that. They should give at least 3 rings at least give you a chance.” (Claimant)
Jen Clark, Economic and Social Rights Lead at Amnesty International UK, said:“Lives are being ruined by a system that is consciously cruel – it erodes dignity by design. We are in a state of severe human rights violations.
“The social security system is impenetrable, inadequate, and for some completely inaccessible.
“There can be no tinkering of the system – it has gone too far, and it is too late. There must be full reform. It is broken from start to finish and intentionally sets people up to fail. No-one would want political choices in this country to deliberately diminish dignity and perpetuate poverty.
“I’ve worked to highlight human rights violations for more than two decades and witnessed many awful situations. But never have I encountered such raw and widespread distress from people sharing their experiences in the UK.
“We need a landmark, independent Social Security Commission with statutory powers to overhaul the UK’s broken benefits system. It must be rooted in dignity and human rights and designed by and for the people. This must protect us all – be that today or in the future where we all may need it.”
Voices of the campaign
John, 60’s, from Hampshire was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) quite late on in life – in his 60s. It progressed much faster than he could have ever expected. “In August 2021, before I even knew what was happening to me, I was still working at the Ministry of Defence as a Policy Advisor. I was deployed to Afghanistan to help with the evacuation. Before my diagnosis, I had spent years working and contributing, and I never once thought I would be in a position where I needed to rely on benefits.”
In speaking about the experience of applying for Personal Independence Payment (PiP), John said:
“Applying was a nightmare. The process was so difficult and one-sided. When I finally received my assessment, DWP had scored me zero for the impact MS had on my daily life. Zero. If they had at least acknowledged some of the difficulties, if they had scored me a five or six or even a seven instead of the eight, I needed, I might have accepted it. But to say that MS had no impact on my life at all? That was infuriating.
“There is a bus stop 100 meters from my house. Usain Bolt could get there in less than 10 seconds whereas it takes me 10 minutes, but we would both score a zero for impact of MS on our lives. It’s ridiculous.”
Carly, 39, London is a single mother to a young son. She was recently receiving Universal credit, with contributions towards housing and her son’s childcare costs. Despite having good knowledge of the process from a prior job, she found navigating the social security system difficult.
In speaking about Universal Credit and the challenges that occur when benefits are wrongly cancelled, Carly said:
“As a single parent, working in a temporary role, I was not earning enough to cover private rental fees. My son had just started nursery, and I had a lot of expenses that my salary couldn’t cover. I applied for benefits with a five week wait – which was a very difficult time.
“When my role was made permanent, I got a lump sum of holiday pay in my paycheck – meaning I was paid more that month than usual. Unexpectedly, this led to my benefits claim being incorrectly cancelled. I wasn’t contacted about this and had no idea until the money didn’t appear in my bank account. I was crying on the phone telling my landlord I couldn’t pay my rent. I had a terrible ten-week wait until my social security payments started again and had to borrowed money from friends and family. I was offered an advance before the claim came through – but I’d already had one to pay for nursery fees and didn’t want to get into further debt.
“I did lodge a complaint about the cancellation of my benefits, but the claim wasn’t upheld, and I felt I didn’t have the time or energy to fight it.
“The hardest thing about the social security system is the uncertainty and insecurity around it all. It was very mentally challenging to not know when or how much my payments would be. I lived in fear of uploading the wrong information and having my benefits cancelled again. The worst part is the feeling like you have no control over anything. You always feel insecure. I was always relieved when universal credit went in, and it was the amount you were expecting.
“The stigma is real, navigating the system only amplifies it, making an already difficult situation even harder. You have no autonomy, no choice, there’s nothing you can do. It creates a feeling that you aren’t deserving or worthy – that you should be grateful and not challenge anything.”
Philip from Leeds
“I lost my job suddenly in September 2023. I did my applications early to get ahead, but I didn’t realise the claim automatically starts from the day you fill the form in, and you can’t change the date. It made my claim invalid which meant I missed my initial payment. I also never received the support I was due towards my home costs, despite chasing and asking many times. When I contacted the Job Centre to request a face-to-face appointment with a work coach, but it took me over a month to be able to get the appointment and sadly, it wasn’t helpful at all.
“Around this time, my father was ill with dementia. I live far from my parents and don’t drive, and being on such a low income meant I didn’t have the funds to travel there by public transport. I couldn’t afford to visit my father in his final days, and he passed away in November 2023. Not being able to see him before he died was extremely difficult and after going to my GP, I was put on anti-depressants.
“Having to chase my social security claim and not getting responses or offers to the jobs I was applying for, alongside with the grief I was experiencing, had a huge effect on my mental health and made things very difficult. I was struggling to cope.”
Additional case studies
Valerie*
“Being on benefits in the UK can feel almost taboo- something to keep private and feel embarrassed about. This is sad, because the vast majority of us are just normal people trying to live life the best way we can, raise our families and find whatever happiness there is in life despite the hardships we face.”
Peter
“I started receiving social security in 2021, just after I finished university. I applied for Personal Independence Payments (PIP) due to a long-term health condition. The PIP application process was atrocious and ultimately took over a year.
“I had to deal with a lack of understanding about my condition. One of the interviewers mislabelled and misunderstood the medical equipment I use and even went as far as to lecture me about my own illness. I had to get my doctor to write a letter just to confirm what I’d said.
“I would often be asked the same question three times to see if I’d change my answer. The process feels like you are on trial for murder, they act like they are trying to catch you out and that you are begging.
“The PIP application needs to be renewed every couple of years or so – despite my disability being due to a long-term health condition that won’t improve over time. Itt’s like I am starting over again each time.
“Watching my friends from Uni live their lives makes me feel like I am missing out on a lot. I would like to be able to do more things, to get out and about a bit more – perhaps take a day trip to a local area. Even to travel locally is hard as the buses are too expensive and I can’t afford a car. I don’t want to be on benefits, I’d love to be able to work but I simply can’t.”
Steve
“I had to stop working 15 years ago. I’d been struggling with severe pain in my right knee for about two years before finally having surgery. That’s when I was diagnosed with Osteoarthritis. I somehow managed to keep working through the pain, but eventually, it just became too much. I’ve now developed Osteoarthritis throughout my whole body.
“I use a crutch indoors and both crutches whenever I go outside. Getting around is incredibly difficult, but I push myself because if I didn’t get out at all, I’d feel down and alone.
“Appling for Universal Credit and PIP was tough. Being on benefits doesn’t feel great. I’m in a small studio flat and most days I’m by myself. Going out for shopping is the only time I see anyone. Prices have gone up too, which makes things harder.
“Losing my mum in 2020, just before lockdown, hit me hard. I still miss her so much. And visiting and being with my dad brings me comfort. It makes things much better for me. Visiting my dad is really hard with my condition. He’s 92 now and lives over three and a half hours away. My sister moved closer to him to help out. I try to go see them when I can, but the journey is a lot.
“I have to get a train into London, struggle through the underground to catch another train, then a bus, and finally a taxi to his place. Before COVID, I used to take the National Express coach straight to his, then just a taxi. But that route’s been cancelled and it’s now so much longer and more exhausting.”
NEW PENSION AGE DISABILITY PAYMENT REPLACES ATTENDANCE ALLOWANCE
The SNP Scottish Government has introduced the Pension Age Disability Payment (PADP) in Edinburgh and across Scotland with the national rollout of a new, fairer replacement to Attendance Allowance.
The payment is for people of state pension age living with a disability or long-term health condition.
PADP takes a fairer, more dignified approach to supporting pensioners than Attendance Allowance. While Attendance Allowance only classes those with terminal illness as eligible to receive support if they are expected to live for 12 months or less, PADP classes terminally ill people as eligible regardless of how long they are expected to live.
The payment, which is not means-tested, is paid either at a higher rate of £441 a month, or a lower rate of £295 a month. Under PADP, terminally ill recipients are automatically entitled to the highest level of payment – which is not the case under Attendance Allowance.
Commenting, SNP MSP Gordon Macdonald said: “In light of the UK Labour government’s decision to cut the Winter Fuel Payment and slash PIP provision, the SNP Scottish Government is delivering the support that older disabled people across Edinburgh deserve.
“I welcome the rollout of the Pension Age Disability Payment as people living with terminal illness will automatically be entitled to the highest level of payment, regardless of life expectancy – a marked difference from Westminster’s Attendance Allowance.
“This new benefit is the 15th delivered by Social Security Scotland with the principle of dignity, fairness, and respect at its heart.
“I urge all those across the city who think they may be eligible to apply.”
As the mental health crisis rages throughout our nation, the Scottish Government continues to fail to address the crucial role of occupational therapy for our forgotten citizens (writes FOYSOL CHOUDHURY MSP).
As Scotland contends with an escalating mental health crisis, it is heartbreaking to see the Scottish Government neglect the crucial role of occupational therapy in supporting our citizens. This oversight leaves countless individuals without the essential care they need to overcome their challenges and lead fulfilling lives. We must urgently address this gap and ensure that occupational therapy receives the recognition and support it deserves.
The shortage of occupational therapists in Edinburgh and across Scotland is truly distasteful. These professionals play a crucial role in helping individuals overcome physical, emotional, and social challenges, allowing them to achieve their full potential. The growing demand for occupational therapy services highlights the need for increased support and investment in this vital field.
Occupational therapists are essential in enhancing the quality of life for those with disabilities, mental health issues, and other barriers to daily living. Their work improves individual well being and strengthens our community by encouraging independence and resilience.
In Edinburgh, the need for occupational therapists is particularly severe. According to the Scottish Health Survey, more than 1 in 3 people in Scotland are affected by mental health problems each year. Furthermore, in a report conducted by the Scottish Action for Mental Health, over 50,000 people were admitted to hospital with mental health conditions in 2023/24.
These statistics underscore the urgent need for more occupational therapists to provide timely and effective care. The impact of occupational therapy extends beyond individual patients. By helping people regain their independence and participate in daily activities, occupational therapists contribute to the overall health and well-being of our community.
Occupational therapists operate in various settings, including hospitals, schools, and community centres, providing support to individuals of all ages. In Edinburgh, iThrive’s mental health and wellbeing strategy emphasises the importance of supporting and promoting mental health in addition to addressing mental illness.
Occupational therapists are at the forefront of these efforts, helping to create a more inclusive and supportive environment for all. Despite the critical role of occupational therapists, there is a significant shortage of these professionals in Scotland. The Mental Health Inpatient Census 2022 revealed that there were 2,959 mental health, addiction, and learning disability inpatients in NHS Scotland at the time of the census.
This represents an 11% decrease compared with the 2019 Census and a 24% decrease since the first Census in 2014. The number of available beds for mental health, addiction, and learning disability patients has also been consistently decreasing, with a 12% decrease in available beds from the 2019 Census. These trends highlight the growing need for occupational therapists to provide essential care and support to those in need.
In a recent conversation with the Royal College of Occupational Therapists, I heard about the ongoing shortage of occupational therapists having far-reaching consequences. It leads to longer waiting times for patients, reduced access to services, and increased pressure on existing healthcare providers.
This delay in care can have a detrimental impact on the mental health and well-being of young people, making it even more critical to address the shortage of occupational therapists. We also discussed the need to expand the therapy workforce and improve early intervention, supporting people to be economically active.
To address this urgent need, we must prioritise the recruitment and retention of occupational therapists in Edinburgh and across Scotland.
This requires increased investment in education and training programmes to ensure that we have enough qualified professionals to meet the growing demand. Additionally, we must provide competitive salaries and benefits to attract and retain skilled occupational therapists. By investing in these professionals, we are investing in the future of our community, ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to thrive.
Furthermore, we must raise awareness about the importance of occupational therapy and the critical role these professionals play in our healthcare system. Public campaigns and early educational initiatives can help to highlight the value of occupational therapy and encourage more individuals to pursue careers in this field. Through promoting the benefits of occupational therapy, we can help to build a stronger and more resilient healthcare system.
The need for occupational therapists in Edinburgh and Scotland is urgent and cannot be ignored. Here, we must value the life-changing power of occupational therapy. Let us work together to address this critical issue and build a healthier and more inclusive future for all.
Scottish Secretary Ian Murray has laid the ‘The Scotland Act 1998 (Increase of Borrowing Limits) Order 2025’ which increases the Scottish Government’s borrowing limits to a cumulative total of £3 billion for capital and £629 million for resource.
The Scottish Government’s borrowing limits (both annual and cumulative) are uprated annually in line with inflation, as set out in the Fiscal Framework. As the cumulative limits are legislated for under the Scotland Act 1998, secondary legislation is required to make the annual changes. The annual limits are non-legislative so no legislative change is required to amend these.
Speaking after laying the Order, Mr Murray said: “I’m very pleased to have laid this Scotland Act Order which increases the Scottish Government’s cumulative borrowing limits to a total of £3.6 billion.
“The Autumn Budget provided an additional £4.9 billion for the Scottish Government, ending austerity. These borrowing powers are on top of the Scottish Government’s record funding settlement of £47.7 billion this financial year.
“We have reset the relationship with the Scottish Government, and this order is a key part of our commitment to maintain the devolution settlement.”
The Order will take effect on 30 June 2025. There will be a debate in the House of Commons before then.
The 2023 Fiscal Framework Agreement between the Scottish and UK Governments sets out the Scottish Government’s funding arrangements, including budget management tools such as borrowing powers.
Officials in both the UK Government and the Scottish Government worked together to deliver the Order, as they do with all Scotland Act Orders.
