The SNP has said Rishi Sunak must “stop making excuses and bring forward a major package of support” today to boost household incomes and tackle the spiralling Tory cost-of-living crisis.
Ahead of the Spring budget, Alison Thewliss MP labelled Rishi Sunak “the poverty Chancellor” – a man who, in the face of the worst drop in living standards for decades, has chosen to push even more people into poverty by hiking National Insurance by 10%, slashing Universal Credit by £1040, and imposing a real term cut to pensions by scrapping the triple lock.
The SNP Shadow Chancellor said Mr Sunak is “not going anywhere near far enough to support families” and warned “it is essential to reverse Tory cuts and tax hikes and deliver a major boost to incomes – not just tinker around the edges with minor adjustments”.
The SNP has called for the UK government to:
Scrap the Tory 10% National Insurance tax hike
Follow the SNP government’s 6% uprating of benefits
Match the SNP government’s £20 a week Scottish Child Payment UK-wide
Reverse the £1040 Tory cuts to Universal Credit
Reverse the Tory decision to scrap the pensions triple lock
Turn the £200 ‘buy now pay later loan’ into a more generous energy grant
Introduce a windfall tax on excess company profits to help households
Commenting, SNP Shadow Chancellor Alison Thewliss MP said:
“Rishi Sunak has become the poverty Chancellor.
“At a time when families face the biggest blow to living standards since the 1970s, Mr Sunak is pushing people further into poverty and hardship by hiking taxes, slashing Universal Credit, and scrapping the pensions triple lock.
“The Chancellor must stop making excuses and bring forward a major package of support to reverse the damage the Tory government is causing to household incomes and tackle the Tory cost-of-living crisis.
“This Westminster crisis has been a decade in making.
“Damaging decisions over Tory austerity, Brexit, and failure to invest in renewable energy have cost the economy billions, decimated social security, and pushed many households over the brink.
“Under the Tories, the UK also already has the worst levels of poverty and inequality in north west Europe and the highest in-work poverty this century.
“The reality is that the Chancellor is not going anywhere near far enough to tackle this crisis and to support families.
“The SNP has been consistently clear that there must be a comprehensive package of support.
“That must include converting the £200 energy loan into a more generous grant, maintaining the 12.5% VAT rate on hospitality and tourism services, scrapping the regressive National Insurance tax hike, reversing the £1040 cuts to Universal Credit, matching the Scottish Child Payment UK-wide, introducing a Real Living Wage to boost incomes, and following the Scottish Government’s 6% uprating of benefits.
“It is essential to reverse Tory cuts and tax hikes and deliver a major boost to incomes – not just tinker around the edges with minor adjustments.
“The reality is that with every day the UK government fails to use its reserved powers to tackle the cost of living, it is making the case that independence is the only way for Scotland to boost incomes, tackle poverty and build a fairer society.”
