The SNP has “families are seeing their incomes hammered under Westminster control” – as analysis shows the UK is set for the biggest fall in living standards on record.
Analysis of the Tory government’s spring budget shows:
- The UK is expected to suffer the biggest fall in living standards since records began in the 1950s – with real household disposable income (RHDI) expected to fall by 5.7 per cent over 2022-23 and 2023-24 (Source: OBR)
- Most people are expected to be worse off in 2027 than they were in 2019 – with real incomes still expected to be lower in 2027-28 than 2019-20, and the typical household expected to be worse-off by £694/year by 2027-28 as a result of Tory government policies (Resolution Foundation)
- Households will pay an extra £67 a month for energy bills – after the Chancellor scrapped the Energy Bill Support Scheme with immediate effect.
- Brexit is forecast to deal a 4% hit to UK GDP – with UK imports and exports expected to be 15 per cent lower than if the UK had remained in the EU (Source: OBR)
- The UK is set to suffer slower growth this year than any other major economy, including sanction-hit Russia (Source: OBR)
Commenting, SNP Economy spokesperson Stewart Hosie MP said:
“Scotland is a wealthy, energy-rich country but families are seeing their incomes hammered under Westminster control – and the UK economy is slumping behind.
“With Brexit costing the UK billions of pounds in long-term damage, and families facing the biggest fall in living standards on record, it’s clear Scotland needs independence so we can build a strong, fair and prosperous economy.
“Neither the Tories or the pro-Brexit, pro-cuts Labour Party are being honest about the damage their policies are doing to Scotland.
“There’s a reason the UK is expected to have slower growth than any other major economy – including sanction-hit Russia.
“The SNP government will do everything it can to support people’s incomes, including progressive policies like the Scottish Child Payment – but with no change on offer at Westminster, Scotland needs independence to deliver the real change people want.”
