Campaigners will take to Glasgow's George Square to protest 'rape clause'

HUNDREDS of people are expected to speak out this evening against the highly controversial tax credit ‘rape clause’.

The Scrap the Rape Clause rally will take place at 6pm in Glasgow’s George Square and will feature speeches from SNP MP Alison Thewliss, Sandy Brindley from Rape Crisis Scotland, Mridul Wadhwa from Shakti Women’s Aid and Talat Yaqoob, a noted feminist activist.

Check out this list of fierce women that will be speaking tomorrow! #scrapthecap #scraptherapeclause pic.twitter.com/FD5INnyLFs

— Sarah Masson (@_sarahmasson) April 12, 2017

The new tax credits cap means that Child Tax Credits will only be available for the first and second child, unless a child is a result of rape. In this case, women will have to fill in a Department of Work and Pensions form and provide any available evidence or testimony from a third party.

We've helped many people in our 45 years with different forms but this … is just unacceptable! #scraptherapeclause pic.twitter.com/6l0Kv8d2MQ

— Bridgeton CAB (@BridgetonCAB) April 13, 2017

The clause has drawn criticism from politicians, rape charities and women’s groups. This afternoon Nicola Sturgeon tweeted that the two child cap should be scrapped, which would also eliminate the ‘rape clause’.

To Tories who say #rapeclause needed to protect rape victims from 2 child tax credit cap – the better answer is to scrap the 2 child cap.

— Nicola Sturgeon (@NicolaSturgeon) April 13, 2017

Alison Johnstone, Green MSP for Lothian, also voiced her support for the Scrap the Rape Clause movement, and posted a picture of herself alongside Green Party Co-convener Patrick Harvie urging people to attend tonight’s rally.

People are gathering in Glasgow at 6pm today to call on the UK Government to #scraptherapeclause. Please head along to support if available. pic.twitter.com/ZO72AJUHNX

— Alison Johnstone (@AlisonJohnstone) April 13, 2017

A statement on the Protest: Scrap the Rape Clause Facebook event page says: “There has been incredible and united anger against the Family Cap and Rape Clause in Scotland; one week on, we’re gathering to tell the DWP that our strong opposition is not going anywhere.”