Only independence can protect Scotland.
The SNP has called on Rishi Sunak to U-turn on his Budget proposals and instead deliver a progressive, investment-led recovery Budget – following a warning from the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR).
Speaking at the Treasury Committee today, OBR official, Sir Charlie Bean, predicted that real household disposable incomes will not reach pre-pandemic levels until the end of 2023 following the Chancellors announcement last week.
Mr Bean also described current UK productivity growth as “modest” and not “anything like the pre-pandemic rates”.
The SNP urged the UK government to deliver a major financial package to help boost incomes and reverse rising poverty levels across the UK – something the Chancellor failed to do.
Commenting, the SNP’s Shadow Chancellor Alison Thewliss MP said:
“The Chancellor’s Budget has left us in no doubt that, under Westminster control, Scotland will not be able to deliver a fair recovery from the pandemic.
“The SNP demanded a radical and progressive package that would boost incomes and tackle rising poverty levels which would have included reversing the Universal Credit cut, delivering a multi-billion-pound Brexit Recovery Fund, and offering a meaningful pay rise to public sector workers to offset a decade of Tory cuts.
“None of these calls were delivered by the Chancellor, and it will now be those on the lowest incomes who will suffer the consequences.
“Today’s comments from Sir Charlie Bean clearly shows that the cost-of-living crisis we are currently facing is here to stay.
“Only with an investment-led recovery will the UK be able to tackle this crisis – not by making champagne cheaper and hiking taxes on the country’s poorest.
“The Chancellor must listen to these concerns and U-turn on his Spending Review plans – plans that will leave millions of people across the UK thousands of pounds worse off.
“Only with the full powers of independence can Scotland finally escape the long-term damage of Brexit Britain and secure a strong and equal recovery from the pandemic.”
