A Glasgow MP is demanding an urgent meeting with the UK Work and Pensions Secretary after she said the tax credits rape clause offered women “double support”.

Esther McVey told MSPs on a Holyrood committee the clause was an opportunity for women who have been raped to talk about their ordeal.

She said: “This could give them an opportunity to talk about, maybe, something that has happened that they never had before, so it is potentially double support … them getting the money they need and maybe an outlet which they might possibly need.”

Her comments have been criticised by MSPs and anti-violence campaigners.

Alison Thewliss, Glasgow Central SNP MP and a long- time campaigner against the rape clause has written to Ms McVey seeking a meeting.

She said: “I didn’t think the Tory government could sink any lower on this issue, but they have once again outdone themselves.

“The Secretary of State is completely out of step with how damaging the two child limit is, and she demonstrated as much with her performance at yesterday’s committee hearing.”

Ms Thewliss is planning to join campaigners demonstrating against the two child cap and the rape clause in Edinburgh on Thursday.

Ms Thewliss added: “Esther McVey is simply wrong about the rape clause. No woman should be forced to relive the experience of rape simply in order to qualify for tax credits. To endorse the existing process as in some way beneficial to the claimant is simply staggering.”