CUMNOCK'S representatives in Westminster and Holyrood have hit out at changes to Personal Independence Payments (PIP).

It comes as guidelines were issued, by the Department of Work and Pensions, ordering benefit assessors to single out those with mental health conditions – even when the impact is identical to those suffering physical conditions.

The new ruling states that mental health conditions are not relevant to the mobility component of a PIP, even if a person's mobility is limited to the same extent as someone with a physical impairment.

This follows the UK government's introduction of emergency legislation to block a tribunal ruling that PIP payments should be extended for those with mental ill health.

Speaking during an urgent question in Westminster on the issue MP Corri Wilson, the SNP’s Disabilities spokeswoman, said: "The UK government continually states that serious mental health should be treated the same as any other illness but their response to these rulings betray the old attitudes and stigma towards mental ill health.

"They cannot keep shifting the goalposts every time they lose a battle in court. If a person needs help, he or she needs help - regardless of the nature of their disability or health condition.

"So many people becoming destitute in our communities, being sanctioned, falling through the safety net, or becoming dependent on foodbanks, are people with mental health problems - but the Government refuse to even acknowledge this.

"The Tories must back away from this ill-judged move which they seem determined to bulldoze through, regardless of the views of MPs and the public."

Jeane Freeman, MSP for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley added: "I welcome my colleague Corri Wilson MP raising this matter at Westminster. I have already written to Penny Mordaunt MP, the UK Minister of State for Disabled People, Work and Health asking her to reverse this decision before responsibility for PIP is devolved to the Scottish Parliament.

"Only the Tories would respond to a legal decision that they are doing the wrong thing by re-writing the rules to make sure they get their own way.

"And that way is to make the least able and least responsible bear the costs of reckless Tory policies."