Tory tax hike penalising Scottish families the low paid and the young.
The SNP has said Boris Johnson is “balancing the books on the backs of the poor and the young” with his regressive Tory tax hike.
Speaking at Prime Ministers Questions, Ian Blackford MP (pictured) said the increase was a ‘Tory poll tax’ that is being imposed on millions of Scottish families against Scotland’s will – and would penalise low and middle income workers and the young to subsidise the wealthy.
The SNP Westminster Leader said the combination of Tory cuts and tax hikes amounted to ‘Austerity 2.0’ – with Scottish families being hit by a triple whammy of Universal Credit cuts, the premature termination of furlough, and the increase in taxes – and said independence is the only way to keep Scotland safe and secure a strong, fair and equal recovery.
Commenting, SNP Westminster Leader Ian Blackford MP said:
“Boris Johnson’s regressive Tory tax hike will unfairly penalise Scottish families – and force low and middle income workers to subsidise the wealthy.
“Yet again, the Tories are balancing the books on the backs of the poor and the young – who will be hundreds of pounds worse off every year.
“It’s Tory Austerity 2.0.
“On Boris Johnson’s watch, the UK already has the worst levels of poverty and inequality of any country in north west Europe – and in-work poverty has risen to record levels this century.
“Scottish families now face a triple whammy of regressive Tory tax hikes, £1040 Universal Credit cuts, and the premature termination of furlough, which will make poverty and inequality even worse.
“The Joseph Rowntree Foundation estimates that around 2 million families on low incomes will now pay, on average, an extra £100 per year because of the Prime Minister’s tax hike.
“A former Tory Work and Pensions Secretary has called it a “sham”, a former Tory Chancellor has said this is the “poor subsidising the rich”, and a former Tory Prime Minister has called it “regressive”.
“Scotland deserves better.
“There is clearly no chance of a fair Covid recovery under this Prime Minister and this Westminster government.
“The only way to protect Scotland from Tory cuts and regressive tax hikes is to become an independent country, with the full powers needed to build a fair, strong, and equal recovery.”
