Church defends poor in referendum debate

Wednesday June 12 2013

The debate over the outcome of next year's referendum should not cloud welfare policy, according to the Church of Scotland.

Dr Chris Wiggleworth, Vice-Convener of the Church and Society Council of the Church of Scotland, has defended the poor who rely on benefits to survive in the wake of the highly publicised publication of statistics and the cost of welfare if Scotland votes 'yes' for independence in 2014.He said there were many myths about poverty including "that the poor are poor mainly because they are feckless, workshy and liars."

Dr Wigglesworth  explained: “We know this is untrue and unjust – the evidence is clear. Instead of seeing welfare as a problem that needs to be managed, politicians have to be fair in addressing unemployment and low pay. "

He added: “The stigma of poverty is a blight on our society and on Scotland’s future, independent or not.     For the family relying on food banks, or the household struggling to manage tighter budgets thanks to the so-called bedroom tax, we say this is unjust.

 “When Jesus said ‘the poor will always be with you’ he did not then add: ‘so that’s all right then’.  “

 The Church of Scotland published ‘the lies we tell ourselves: ending comfortable myths about poverty’ with the Baptist Union of Great Britain, the Methodist Church and the United Reformed Church in March 2013.  Read the report here

Post Tags: independence, poverty

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