Tory sanctions are 'punishing poorest'

Fury as 116,000 Scots lose Universal Credit in 7 years

- ANDREW QUINN

THE Tories have been accused of "punishing the poorest" after it was revealed more than 116,000 benefit sanctions have been carried out in Scotland since 2016.

The shocking figures show the Department for Work and Pensions applied 116,601 sanctions between May 1, 2016, and April 30, 2023.

Some 57,015 of these were in central, west and southwest Scotland, while 59,586 were in the east and north.

Sanctions are when a Universal Credit claimant has their benefit stopped or reduced. This happens when a claimant does not meet one or more conditions of their benefit claim.