The SNP has said the Tory government must U-turn on its reckless plans to scrap the furlough scheme at the end of the month – as UK unemployment rises to the highest level in three years.
New analysis from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has revealed that the UK unemployment rate grew to 4.5% in the three months to August, compared with 4.1% in the previous quarter.
While redundancies have risen to their highest level since 2009.
The number of redundancies is expected to rise further if the Tories scrap the furlough scheme this month, with analysis from Citibank suggesting unemployment could hit 8.5% in the first half of 2021.
Alison Thewliss MP (pictured) said Scotland now faces a “Tory winter crisis” of soaring unemployment and an extreme Brexit being imposed against our will.
The SNP Shadow Chancellor said with the Tory government blocking investment and the devolution of financial powers, the only way to properly protect Scotland’s economy is to become an independent country.
Commenting, SNP Shadow Chancellor Alison Thewliss MP said:
“It is now beyond doubt that Tory cuts are causing unemployment to rise – with the number of redundancies at the highest level in over a decade.
“The SNP has warned the Chancellor for more than six months that cutting support prematurely would cause thousands of people to lose their jobs unnecessarily – but he has refused to listen, and now we are seeing the devastating consequences for communities across the UK.
“The Tory government must make an immediate U-turn on its reckless plans to scrap the furlough scheme at the end of the month, and finally agree to devolve the financial powers that Scotland needs to protect our economy.
“If they refuse, they will bear the blame for the growing unemployment crisis.
“Scotland shouldn’t have to wait for Westminster to act.
“It is appalling that the UK government has clearly taken a decision to let unemployment soar – and is blocking the financial powers and investment the Scottish Parliament needs to save jobs in Scotland.
“Scotland now faces a Tory winter crisis of soaring unemployment and an extreme Brexit being imposed against our will.
“It’s clearer than ever that the only way to properly protect Scotland’s economy is to become an independent country.”
