The SNP has said “independence is the only way to keep Scotland safe from Tory cuts” – warning the UK Budget has short-changed Scotland and left millions of families worse off.
Commenting, SNP Westminster Leader Ian Blackford MP (pictured) said:
“It’s increasingly clear that there will be no fair recovery under Westminster control.
“The only way to keep Scotland safe from Tory cuts is to become an independent country.
“No amount of smoke and mirrors can disguise the fact that the UK Budget has short-changed Scotland, and left millions of families hundreds of pounds worse off next year due to Tory cuts, tax hikes and the soaring cost of Brexit.
“Under the Tories, the UK has the worst levels of poverty and inequality in north west Europe and the highest levels of in-work poverty this century.
“Yet, this Budget did nothing to tackle the Tory cost of living crisis.
“The piecemeal measures won’t even offset Tory Universal Credit cuts, National Insurance hikes or rising inflation, let alone boost incomes.
“The Tory government has short-changed Scotland by billions of pounds.
“It has broken its pledge to invest in Scottish carbon capture projects, failed to match the Scottish Government’s £500million just transition fund, failed to fully replace EU funding for Scottish local authorities, and failed to compensate Scotland for the damage of Brexit.
“It beggars belief that the Tories expect us to be grateful even though they are making families poorer and robbing Scotland of investment.”
