Through one lens, Labour’s tough welfare reforms are a gift to the SNP. The Nats can, will and indeed already have claimed that this is yet another example of how Westminster lacks compassion and is willing to balance its books on the backs of the poor. “No different to the Tories,” the cry rings out. There is certainly an audience for that school of thought.
Squint through a second lens, though, and Labour has presented the SNP with a horrible problem. While some of the changes announced by Liz Kendall this week – such as cuts to some Universal Credit payments – will apply directly in Scotland, others will not. For example, the Personal Independence Payment is devolved to and administered by the Scottish government and is called the Adult Disability Payment north of the border.
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