THEY call Dundee the sanctions capital of Britain. What these figures clearly show is how deeply flawed the sanctions regime is because the folk in Dundee are no different to the people in the rest of the country.
This suggests to me that the people issuing sanctions in Dundee, in particular, are going way over the top compared to every other part of the country. There is no rational explanation for the huge gap between what is happening in Dundee and what is happening elsewhere.
There needs to be an immediate inquiry to find out why this is happening and meantime the suspension of sanctions until they find out what shambles has created this situation where folk in Dundee are being sanctioned left, right and centre.
People are being sanctioned for the most ridiculous reasons and despite the denials from the Department of Work and Pensions that their officers don’t have targets, it is blatantly obvious that you get promotion the more people you sanction.
Unfortunately, the Scottish Government has no control over these sanctions. If we had control we would get rid of this sanctions regime because it is totally unfair.
The Welfare Committee at the Parliament is looking into sanctions and their impact because clearly everybody outside the Tory party is totally united that sanctions are driving children, disabled people and poor people even further into poverty and debt.
We need to get the Parliament to do it so then we get cross-party consensus. I think it is something the Parliament should be united on because clearly every sensible person realises the sanctions are really doing enormous damage tosociety. Instead of abstaining on the Welfare Bill, it is the type of the thing that the Labour Party should join with us on to put amendments to the Bill to end to the sanctions.
The four Labour leadership candidates should all make a commitment to join forces with the SNP to amend the Welfare Bill.
Letters to the National, August 27: Beware IDS, the empathic assassin
How where you live affects rate of benefits sanctions
When compassion disappears ...
The National view, August 27: We have to stand up for those being persecuted by the Tory Government
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here