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Thomson Backs Calls for Emergency UK Budget to Tackle Cost of Living - Westminster "Undermining Scotland's Progress on Tackling Poverty"
Gordon MP Richard Thomson has given his backing to calls for the Chancellor of the Exchequer to bring forward an emergency Budget with a meaningful package of measures to boost household incomes.
The SNP MP warned that current proposals won't even scratch the surface and are nowhere near enough to help families cope, saying the Tory cost of living crisis "has been a decade in the making", with a toxic combination of Westminster cuts, regressive tax hikes, stagnant wages, poor economic growth, and the soaring cost of Brexit all contributing to squeezed household incomes and rising poverty.
Commenting, Richard Thomson MP said:
“That we are living presently with a cost of living crisis is surely undeniable. Inflation is at 5.5%, and that is reflected in our food prices and our energy prices. It is exacerbated by a supply chain crisis due to coronavirus and from the twin shotgun holes that the UK Government have blasted in each of their feet through the Brexit that they have stumbled towards.
"This Westminster crisis has been a decade in the making, with a toxic combination of Westminster cuts, regressive tax hikes, stagnant wages, poor economic growth, and the soaring cost of Brexit resulting in squeezed household incomes and rising poverty across the UK.
"The Chancellor needs to bring forward an emergency Budget, with a comprehensive package of measures to boost household incomes and help families cope.
"While the SNP Government is tackling poverty by doubling the Scottish Child Payment to £20 a week, the Conservative Government is actively undermining Scotland's progress by cutting Universal Credit by £20 a week and failing to act on the cost of living.
"A decade of damaging Westminster decisions have hammered household budgets. Whether it's the benefits freeze, the bedroom tax, the two-child cap, £9k tuition fees, or the National Insurance tax hike - the Tories have made millions of people poorer.
"For every step Scotland takes forward in tackling poverty, Westminster drags us back again. The full powers of independence are the only way to keep Scotland safe and eradicate poverty."
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