During Scottish First Ministers Questions (FMQs) on 25 October, Nicola Sturgeon called out Conservative MSP Michelle Ballantyne. She did so after Ballantyne made “Dickensian” comments in the Scottish Parliament during a debate on “ending austerity, poverty and inequality” on 24 October.
‘Appalling’ DWP comments
Ballantyne said during the debate:
It is fair that people on benefits cannot have as many children as they like while people who work and pay their way and do not claim benefits have to make decisions about the number of children they can have. Fairness means fairness to everybody, not to one part of the community.
She was subsequently roasted by SNP MSP for Renfrewshire South Tom Arthur for her “disgraceful” comments. Sturgeon then took the opportunity to call out Ballantyne’s comments after Arthur asked her the following question at FMQs:
Can I ask the first minister for her response to comments made in this chamber yesterday that people reliant upon social security, including those receiving in-work benefits, have no right to have more than two children?
Sturgeon said Ballantyne’s comments were “appalling” and “also ignorant”:
📽️ @NicolaSturgeon: "The social security safety net is there for all of us. And frankly shame on the Conservative Party that they are dismantling that." #FMQs pic.twitter.com/0BCtNjomGQ
— The SNP (@theSNP) October 25, 2018
Meanwhile, the Conservative MSP was sat in the chamber like this as the first minister spoke about the comments she had made:
A picture paints a thousand words.
‘Dismantling that social security safety net’
Sturgeon continued to slam Conservative welfare reforms:
[The comments were] appalling because the idea that being poor should be a barrier to having a family is Dickensian, and I think shows the Scottish Conservatives in their true colours.
Sturgeon also clarified why Ballantyne’s comments were “ignorant”. She said that, from 2019, the rape clause – an exemption from the two-child limit for tax credits for dependants born from “non-consensual conception” – will no longer just apply to newborn children. It will apply to anyone with children who has to claim benefits. This will include families with more than two children if their “circumstances change”.
Sturgeon concluded:
The social security safety net is there for all of us, should we need it in times of distress or times of changed circumstances, and frankly shame on the Conservatives that they are dismantling that social security safety net.
Twitter reaction
But Ballantyne’s comments have raised some eyebrows far beyond the chamber in Holyrood. One voter claimed this is the “ideology of the Tory party”:
https://twitter.com/SingleMaltBiker/status/1055447828988940288
The Political Editor of ITV Border, Peter MacMahon, also shared Sturgeon’s comments on Twitter:
.@NicolaSturgeon condemns remarks on child credit by @MBallantyneMSP (see below) as "appalling and ignorant". Appalling – idea poverty is a barrier to having a family is "Dickensian". Ignorant – 'rape clause' will soon apply when families circumstances change. #fmqs #FMQs https://t.co/I5z8FywNZj
— @petermacmahon (@petermacmahon) October 25, 2018
Meanwhile, Arthur called on Ballantyne to resign:
Following Michelle Ballantyne's vile and ignorant commments, her position as Tory welfare spokesperson is completely untenable. If Ruth Davidson and her Deputy will not remove Ms Ballantyne then she should resign from the Tory front bench.
— Tom Arthur (@ThomasCArthur) October 25, 2018
He also called out Conservative MP Paul Masterton, who selected Ballantyne to speak at a Universal Credit event:
Paul Masterton fails to mention that his specially invited guest speaker is Michelle Ballantyne. While I call out Michelle Ballantyne for her disgraceful comments, Paul Masterton invites her to speak to his and my constituents who are transitioning to Universal Credit. Shameful. https://t.co/Ll0anJFser
— Tom Arthur (@ThomasCArthur) October 26, 2018
One voter showed their disgust at Ballantyne’s hypocrisy:
https://twitter.com/Stormcarrier/status/1055516863894052864
It’s unlikely that Ballantyne will resign from the frontbench. But her “disgraceful” comments have exposed her personal views towards benefits. And they reflect very badly on the Scottish Conservatives.
This rhetoric has no place in our politics.
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Featured image via: Scottish Parliament/YouTube
