Connarty slams 'vicious' benefit cuts for disabled

LINLITHGOW Labour MP Michael Connarty has hit out at the UK Government's "vicious" plans to cut benefits for disabled people in residential homes.

Speaking in the House of Commons, he highlighted the cases of two families in his constituency, one with a son born with fragile X syndrome and autism and another with a young teacher who suffered a massive stroke.

Mr Connarty said: "Both of them now require 24-hour residential care. Their lives will be damaged irreparably if the government go ahead with the withdrawal of benefits for people in residential care - benefits that give them a quality of life that makes residential care not a prison sentence."

Scotland Office Minister, Conservative MP David Mundell, replied: "The fundamental issue with disability living allowance is that it is not fit for purpose and needs change.

"The government are taking those changes forward."