Iain Duncan Smiths attempt to blame families for plunging children into poverty, is cynical and inexcusable - say charities.

Members of the Scottish Campaign on Welfare Reform have hit out at Iain Duncan Smiths recent claims that “feckless” families spend benefit on themselves rather than on their children as a cynical attempt to cover up the Coalition’s latest attack on the dignity of benefit claimants.

Maggie Kelly, of the Poverty Alliance said,

“Only last week, when George Osbourne was asked “On the basis of your government's present policies, the IFS predicts child poverty will rise steeply, after nine years of falling. What emergency measures will you now take to correct this trajectory and fulfil your pledge to cut the numbers of children living below the OECD recognised poverty line? He replied "I note that she doesn't refer to that fact that we've had a series of budgets that have not added to child poverty and the reason is we took steps to increase child tax credtis to demonstrate that while we were making cuts, we were doing so in a way that was fair..” (2) The following week, Mr. Osbourne had not the slightest hesitation in abolishing the same increases he had been so proud of a couple of days earlier. And now, to divert attention away from this disgraceful about turn, IDS has pitched in to try and blame families in poverty rather than his own government for the forecasted rise in the numbers of children in poverty.”

Marion Davis of One Parent Families Scotland said

“To class so many families as dysfunctional who are struggling to feed their children is appalling. The rise in cost of clothes, food and rent leaves many without option in how they spend their benefits – it’s to cover basic living costs. Iain Duncan Smith is not in touch with reality of how much it costs to bring up a child."

Head of the Child Poverty Action Group in Scotland, John Dickie added;

“There is no question that child wellbeing is about more than income but the child poverty targets and legislation that the coalition government signed up to are already absolutely clear on that. All the evidence shows that as family incomes rise it is children who benefit first, with the vast majority of parents depriving themselves to ensure their children don’t go without.”

“The UK government should be focusing on maximising investment in the new Universal Credit to ensure tapers, treatment of second earners and childcare costs stack up to create a genuine support for families in work and ensuring those unable to work are not impoverished to such an extent they are cut off entirely from future opportunities.”