LOCAL MP Patricia Gibson has criticised the UK Government after the Institute for Fiscal Studies warned that cuts will cause a rise in child poverty.

But Tory MSP Jamie Greene blasted the SNP for apparently not using new welfare powers in Scotland and for cutting North Ayrshire’s budget.

Mrs Gibson, MP for North Ayrshire and Arran, commented after the IFS predicted that factors such as planned benefits cuts and the arrival of the Universal Credit will result in 900,000 more children being pushed into poverty across the UK within the next five years.

Mrs Gibson said: “Universal credit hits families with children the hardest. A study by the Child Poverty Action Group and the Institute of Public Policy Research has shown that lone parent families will be on average £2,380 a year worse off, while families with two children lose £1,100 on average and those with three youngsters lose £2,540.

“The widely respected Institute for Fiscal Studies is clear that further austerity will only widen and deepen poverty across the UK.

“UK Chancellor Philip Hammond must use next week’s Budget to make universal credit fit for families by reversing cuts to work allowances announced by the former chancellor George Osborne in 2015.

“Universal Credit was meant to improve incentives for taking a job while helping working families to improve their standard of living. However, cuts have shredded it and families with children will see the biggest fall in their income, widening inequality and entrenching poverty.”

But Jamie Greene, Conservative MSP for West Scotland said: “The SNP recently declined the offer to take control of welfare powers in Scotland, instead asking for Westminster to remain in charge of them.

“If Patricia Gibson is unsatisfied with the current provision of welfare, then she should address her complaint to the First Minister, whose government just took charge of a range of new powers.

“Despite receiving nearly an addition £1billion for this year’s budget, the Scottish Government still saw fit to cut North Ayrshire Council’s budget by £4.6million, given that social care and many other local services such as drug and alcohol services are delivered through local budgets, passing the blame to Westminster just doesn’t wash any more after 10 years in government in Scotland.

“I suggest that the SNP tries to engage constructively with the UK Government rather than just playing the politics of grievance and actively seeking issues to disagree with them on for the sake of political posturing.”