Russell Findlay: SNP benefits system a 'fraudsters' charter'
The Scottish Conservatives say the current social security system is ‘unsustainable’ as it is projected to reach £10 billion by the end of the decade.
Russell Findlay has branded the SNP’s social security system a “fraudsters’ charter” and claims it is incentivising to be “trapped in a life of misery on benefits”.
The Scottish Conservative leader said the benefits bill is “growing out of control” and the effectiveness of benefits like the Scottish Child Payment are “overstated” by the Scottish Government.
His comments come just a week before the Scottish Government unveils its budget for 2026/27 - Mr Findlay said his party is currently discussing reducing the social security bill with the finance secretary.
Speaking on BBC Radio Scotland Breakfast, Mr Findlay said: “Hardworking Scots and businesses are struggling to keep the doors open and the lights on can see the system is not fair.
“More of their money is disappearing into government coffers and the benefits bill is rising beyond all recognition.
“It is growing out of control in terms of scale and the approach that all claimants are taken at face value - the light-touch approach deployed by the Scottish Government is a fraudsters’ charter.”
He added he does not “dispute” that some people need state benefits, but said the system needs to be “absolutely fair and reasonable”.
Mr Findlay added: “A study last week on the Scottish Child Payment found around one in 10 recipients decided to work fewer hours or give up work altogether to maintain the benefit because it is not in their financial interest.
“That’s not how benefits should work, it shouldn’t incentivise people to be trapped in a life of misery on benefits.”
The Scottish Conservatives also said SNP ministers have been “caught misrepresenting” the effectiveness of this benefit, which is unique to Scotland.
Currently the Scottish Government spends around £7 billion a year on benefit payments. This is projected to increase to £10bn by the end of the decade.
Mr Findlay added: “One in every £7 is spent on social security - that’s unsustainable.
“We are the only party talking about this, let alone being honest and saying Scotland cannot afford to keep spending on social security as we are.”
Mr Findlay’s comments come a day after he made a keynote speech in Edinburgh to kick-start the party’s 2026 election campaigning.
The Conservatives are going to focus their election campaign on tackling the cost-of-living crisis, something that is a top priority for Scottish voters in the May election.
To do this, the party is proposing cuts to income tax and is hoping to see cuts being put forward by Finance Secretary Shona Robison in next week’s budget.
Mr Findlay said: “It is clear to me that the single biggest issue is the cost-of-living crisis.
“People are seeing prices going up in every way, but wages are being further and further squeezed by tax rises by the SNP in Edinburgh and Labour in London.
“We want to give people a break and reduce tax, starting with income tax.
“It can be done, and we’re in discussions for the budget next week with sensible measures to bring taxes down and start giving people a break.
“What we were met with last time was an ideological opposition to reducing income tax in Scotland, which seems to be the mindset in Labour and the SNP that tax rises are always good and virtuous, and any suggestion they should be cut should be resisted.”
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