The SNP has warned that the UK economy is “stuck in a doom loop” and urged the Chancellor to use the upcoming UK Budget to support struggling families instead of imposing further austerity cuts.
It follows confirmation by Chancellor Rachel Reeves that the UK Budget will be delivered on 26 November, much later than usual.
SNP Westminster Leader Stephen Flynn said the delay is “deeply disrespectful” to Scotland, as it leaves the Scottish Government with little time or financial clarity ahead of its own budget, which typically falls in December.
Flynn criticised the direction of the UK economy under Labour, claiming that decisions taken in Westminster are worsening poverty, choking growth and pushing unemployment to a four-year high.
“Brexit Britain is broken and the UK economy is stuck in a never-ending doom loop under Keir Starmer,” he said.
He accused the Labour government of failing to honour pledges on tackling the cost of living, pointing to rising inflation, food prices and energy bills despite promises to bring them down.
Recent figures show UK borrowing costs have hit a 27-year high.
At the same time, the National Insurance increase brought in during Starmer’s first year has coincided with rising job losses, downgraded economic growth, and deteriorating public finances.
Flynn argued that more tax hikes and cuts, rumoured to be part of the Chancellor’s upcoming plans, will only make matters worse.
“All the signs suggest the Chancellor’s plans to impose billions more tax hikes and austerity cuts will leave the economy in an even worse state going forward,” he said.
A YouGov poll released last week revealed that 86% of Scots believe the UK is in a ‘bad state’, with 60% saying they expect things to get worse over the next year.
Flynn said the current situation reflects a failure of leadership at Westminster.
“Neither the Labour Party, Tories nor Farage can fix it, they are the cause of the problem, not the solution,” he said.
“Only with independence can Scotland escape Broken Brexit Britain and the failure of Westminster control.”
He called on the Chancellor to “take urgent action” at the Budget to boost growth and provide meaningful support to households.
