Seamus Logan, MP for Aberdeenshire North and Moray East, has described the response of the Westminster government to a report by the United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights which highlighted serious concerns about the UK’s human rights record for the welfare of its people.
The UN’s report highlighted serious concerns about the UK’s human rights record saying that the UK is failing, with many people continuing to experience violations of everyday rights which include the right to food, housing, health, education, social security, and work.
The UK government pledged to protect these rights when it ratified the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) in 1976. However, these rights are not yet incorporated into domestic law, so not adequately protected or promoted.
Just Fair, a charity which works across the UK to achieve positive social change using human rights, described the report as “a wakeup call” with the UN committee making more than 90 recommendations for action by the Westminster government.
Mr Logan tabled a parliamentary question to Wes Streeting, the UK Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he plans to implement the recommendations made by the committee. He also tabled similar questions to the Secretary of State for Work & Pensions, the Minister for Women and Equalities, and the Justice Secretary.
The answer, made by a junior health minister, said they would respond to three areas by 2027 and the rest by 2030. The answers from the other departments were identical and also answered by junior ministers.
The report comes as even the UK branch of Amnesty International is criticising the Westminster government for its cuts to benefits, describing them as “cruel” and saying they will do harm.
Seamus Logan, who is the SNP’s Health and Social Care spokesperson at Westminster, commented:
“This blasé, foot dragging response from the Westminster government is shocking.
“The UN committee are talking about the present in the UK – not five years from now.
“In 2018 when the UN’s Special Rapporteur on UK poverty described the Westminster government’s austerity cuts to benefits as an ‘ideological project causing pain and misery’, the Labour party were quick to criticise the Tories.
“Now they are acting just like the Tories. No wonder Amnesty International are calling the latest round of benefit cuts ‘cruel’.
“It is a damning indictment of the state of Labour and the UK that both are now facing strong criticism from international human rights organisations.
“Just as Scotland is treated as an afterthought by Labour, so too are people who rely on benefits.
“The Westminster government must step back from their benefit cuts programme and instead show some urgency by implementing the recommendations of this report.”
