Born in 1946 and brought up in Cupar, Fife, I was educated at the local school - 
Multiple sclerosis (MS) Society Scotland is leading calls at Holyrood to scrap the nonsensical and unfair ‘20-metre rule’ imposed by the UK Government.
The 20-metre rule states that anyone who can walk this short distance is not entitled to the higher rate of mobility assistance and is viewed as widely unpopular and discriminatory for conditions like MS where symptoms fluctuate
The MSP for Banffshire and Buchan Coast said:
“After years of failings from the Tories, the Scottish Government are prioritising delivering payments for disabled people, as social security is set to be devolved to Holyrood.
“I have been moved by the personal stories I have heard as constituents struggle with the penalising assessment process applying for PIP.
“We have a duty to quickly reform the parts of the current system which cause stress, anxiety and pain and ensure that everyone in Scotland gets the help and support they need.”
“I have been moved by the personal stories I have heard as constituents struggle with the penalising assessment process applying for PIP.
“We have a duty to quickly reform the parts of the current system which cause stress, anxiety and pain and ensure that everyone in Scotland gets the help and support they need.”
More than 15,000 people live with MS in Scotland and nearly one in six will lose out on Personal Independence Payment (PIP) support because of the 20-metre rule.
As a result of this rule, thousands with MS have been stripped of their Motability cars and left trapped in their homes and unable to work, seen their health deteriorate, and been forced to face stressful and lengthy appeals to get their benefits reinstated.
Morna Simpkins, director of MS Society Scotland, said:
“We’ve long known about the enormous harm caused when PIP takes vital support away from people with MS. Not only does the process lack respect for people and their lives but arbitrary and nonsensical conditions like the 20-metre rule can deprive people of vital support.
“We have heard pledges that under devolution the system will treat people with respect and dignity and what we have heard from our community is that for that to happen then, simply put, this rule must be scrapped.
“MS can be painful and exhausting, it shouldn’t be made harder by a welfare system that doesn’t make sense.”
“We have heard pledges that under devolution the system will treat people with respect and dignity and what we have heard from our community is that for that to happen then, simply put, this rule must be scrapped.
“MS can be painful and exhausting, it shouldn’t be made harder by a welfare system that doesn’t make sense.”
