AN MSP has called on Fife Tories to oppose the 'rape clause' in the new changes to child tax credits.

Jenny Gilruth, who represents Mid Fife and Glenrothes, called on the local politicians to condemn the “utterly appalling” policy brought in this month by the UK Government.

The family cap limits tax credits to only two children per family – unless the mother can prove that a third child was conceived as a result of rape or during an abusive relationship.

Ms Gilruth said: “The Tory policy that has become known as the rape clause, requiring women to disclose deeply personal information and prove that a third or subsequent child was conceived as a result of rape in order to claim tax credits, is both disgraceful and disgusting.

“Ruth Davidson and the Scottish Tories should be thoroughly ashamed of their party but instead they are defending the indefensible welfare cuts coming from Westminster.

“The two child policy will mean a loss of up to £2,800 every year per child for hardworking families – driving up child poverty after the UK government scrapped their child poverty targets.

“I will continue to fight these heartless policies and I have written to Conservative MSP Murdo Fraser for Mid Scotland and Fife – asking him to stand up for the dignity and human rights of women in Scotland and condemn these utterly appalling Tory government policies.”

The MSP said many sexual violence support charities, such as Rape Crisis Scotland and Scottish Women’s Aid, have said they will refuse to act as third party verifiers for the UK government, not least due to the trauma and stigma that the rape assessment process will cause both survivors and children of rape.

And she added that the policy left outstanding questions as regards women's rights, the impact on child poverty and how healthcare professionals will be trained to assess evidence of rape.

Dave Dempsey, leader of the Conservative Group at Fife Council, said: "Ms Gilruth is conflating two questions here. One is whether tax credits should be available for a maximum of two children per family or for all children.

"Since we live in a time of family planning, it’s reasonable to argue that family size is a matter of choice for most and that choices have consequences.

"If, for the moment, we accept that tax credits should be restricted to a maximum of two children, should there be special arrangements where a third or later child is born as a result of rape or an abusive relationship?

"Surely Ms Gilruth would agree that there should as to do otherwise would punish someone for something over which they had no control.

"So the argument here isn’t really about the so called 'rape clause'.

"It’s actually about the overall tax credit system and it illustrates the difference in approach between the Conservatives (low tax, small government) and the left of centre parties (high tax, large government)."

He added: "However, there’s an easy answer. The Fife Conservatives’ principal policy in this election is localised decision making.

"We want decisions made at the lowest level that’s sensible.

"Because of the work of the UK Conservative Government, the Scottish Parliament now has the power to create its own benefits system and, if it so chooses, to reverse any changes in the rest of the UK.

"The SNP Government – Ms Gilruth’s party – has the power to make laws on all manner of topics. For now, it’s clearly forgotten how to do that but I’m sure there’s a book somewhere that’ll explain it."