Legal Spark in crowdfunding appeal for "rape clause" challenge

Scotland's first "social enterprise" law centre has launched a crowdfunding campaign as it attempts to challenge the UK Government’s tax credits "rape clause.

Glaasgow-based Legal Spark hopes to bring a legal case against the policy, introduced in April, that limits tax credits to the first two children in a family, unless "compassionate" exceptions apply, one such being that a woman who has a further child through non-consensual sex must prove that they were raped.

Initially Legal Spark hopes to raise £3,000-£5,000 over the next 30 days using the crowdfunding platform, CrowdJustice to pay for counsel’s opinion on the merits of taking proceedings.

Daniel Donaldson, principal solicitor at Legal Spark, commented: “Part of our work involves campaigning on important issues affecting human dignity.

“This is an important issue for us, our clients and stakeholders who have made it clear that the two-child family cap on tax credits has the potential to push many low income families further into poverty."

He added: “No one should have to prove they were raped to claim a welfare benefit purposely designed to help working families on low incomes.”