SDLP Foyle Westminster candidate Mark Durkan has said it is important that the people of Derry have a strong voice in Parliament who will fight new Tory cuts to tax credits – describing them as penalties against ‘work and parenthood’ which will drive many families in the city into poverty.
In 2015, he had a 6,000 majority over Sinn Fein.
Now Sinn Fein have put up a new candidate, local politician and MLA Elisha McCallion in an effort to wrestle the seat of the SDLP on Thursday, June 8.
Mr Durkan has also said he will continue to challenge the Conservative government’s ‘two-child rule’ and abhorrent ‘rape clause’: “Parliamentary opposition succeeded in forestalling some of the Treasury’s planned cuts to working tax credits.
But this did not extend to the longer term version of similar cuts under Universal Credit as endorsed by DUP and Sinn Fein’s consent motion. In particular, this success did not extend to the pernicious ‘two-child rule’ and ‘rape clause’ which must still be challenged.”
Devastating impact of cuts to tax credits
“The devastating impact of cuts to tax credits will mean that thousands of households in Derry and throughout the North are going to lose significant amounts of money.
“The deepest cuts to tax credits and benefits will hit people who have jobs the hardest – the ‘working poor’ and households who have low and marginal incomes.
“Tory cuts to tax credits are therefore not just a penalty against work; they are also a penalty against parenthood.
“People who are working hard to bring home food to their children and support their family feel utterly betrayed by these measures.
“Indeed, cuts to tax credits are an attack on working families and shows up the Tory lie about their welfare changes ‘making work pay’.
Two-child rule & Rape clause
“I and my fellow SDLP MPs have spoken out strongly and voted against the two-child rule at Westminster, including the crass ‘rape clause’.
“I have also pointed out the double standard of the ‘no child limit rule’ applying to Childcare Tax Allowance direct payments to mostly better off parents which the Tories introduced.
“With other MPs I have also campaigned against the offensive rape clause and its disturbing implications.
“No woman in Derry – or anywhere else for that matter – should have to prove they were raped to receive tax credits.
“All parties will say that ‘Your vote is your voice’ – but not if people have no one to speak for them in Parliament on Tory plans that constitute literally one law for the working rich and one law for the working poor – or on issues like the tax credit two-child rule with its abhorrent rape clause.
“The people of Derry will therefore need a strong voice in Parliament not afraid to always oppose such policies on their behalf.”
