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LibDem MSP Alex Cole-Hamilton had faced criticism for his half-baked initial apology ALEX Cole-Hamilton has issued a fresh apology for swearing at a female Scottish Government minister. The LibDem MSP was heavily criticised after footage emerged of him mouthing “f off” at Maree Todd, Minister for Children and Young People. The Edinburgh politician tweeted to admit that he “lost his temper” – but blamed his behaviour on Todd in a move which provoked further anger. Strathkelvin and Bearsden MSP Rona Mackay branded Cole-Hamilton’s apology “half-baked”. Seeking to put the issue to bed, the LibDem raised a point of order in the Scottish Parliament ahead of Nicola Sturgeon’s lockdown announcement. ....
In a report released by the Women and Equalities Committee on February 9, it was detailed that while these increases have been broadly welcomed, they raised concerns about the overall generosity of the welfare system. The Committee argued the pandemic exacerbated perceived weakness in the Universal Credit system, with an example being the requirement for a five-week wait for initial payments, single household payment problems and joint household assessments and incentives. When an initial claim for Universal Credit is put through, some claimants may have to wait at least five weeks before receiving their first payment and the Committee warned: We heard that the five-week wait can cause particular difficulties for women in abusive relationships, especially during the pandemic, as other opportunities for support have been restricted. ....