People Before Profit's Shaun Harkin criticizes Sinn Fein's Elisha McCallion over welfare reform 'hypocrisy'
People Before Profit's Foyle Westminster candidate Shaun Harkin has criticized Sinn Fein's Westminster candidate Elisha McCallion over what he called her 'hypocrisy' on welfare reform.
Mr Harkin said: "Do Sinn Féin and Elisha McCallion not realise the 'two child policy' and the disgraceful 'rape clause' not only relate to tax credits but are contained in social security legislation they gave Westminster legislative consent for.
"The legislation in relation to the North only went through the House of Commons a month ago (20th April). To avoid any Sinn Féin attempts at distorting this fact, your readers can read the legislation for themselves here: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/nisr/2017/79/pdfs/nisr_20170079_en.pdf
"We are dealing now with the consequences of Welfare Reform waved through here by SF/DUP. This is why Sinn Féin can't be taken seriously when Ms McCallion’s asserts she will 'champion….the rights of women'.
"When the so-called “Fresh Start Agreement” was accepted, Sinn Féin agreed not only to the 'two child policy' with its 'rape clause' but also to the destruction of thousands of public sector jobs – an agreement that greatly undermined equality for women and disabled people.
"Women and disabled people are treated in a much more equal way in public sector employment than in the private sector. The gender pay gap is considerably smaller in the public sector; there are greater rights to maternity and sick pay and to family friendly policies such as flexible working.
"Women and disabled people are more likely to be promoted within the public sector and, of course, women working in the public sector are more likely to have a pension when they retire.
"All in all, the Fresh Start Agreement is a disaster for women’s equal rights. It is nothing short of hypocritical for Elisha McCallion and Sinn Féin to portray themselves as the champion of women’s rights and defenders of social Welfare in this election campaign.
"People Before Profit stands against all cuts to welfare benefits and to working tax credits. There is more than enough money to end women and children’s poverty if the kind of policies being put forward by Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour Party were implemented – tax the large corporations and the super-rich.
"People Before Profit are for extending women's rights. This includes abolishing the gender pay gap, funding free childcare and giving women the right to choose. People Before Profit are the radical alternative on June 8th."