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Thomson Calls for Action Over Rising Costs and Financial Pressures as Inflation Hits 30 Year High
Gordon MP Richard Thomson has called for action to protect families from rising costs and financial pressures as figures this week revealed inflation had climbed to 7 per cent – a 30 year high.
The SNP MP warned that without significant UK Government intervention the figure, which doesn’t yet take into account the 54% increase in the energy price cap this month, will increase astronomically, exacerbating people’s fears over the spiralling cost of living crisis.
Mr Thomson has backed calls from the SNP’s Shadow Chancellor, Alison Thewliss MP for the Conservative UK Government to uplift benefits and the national minimum wage to reflect rising costs and pressures.
Commenting, Richard Thomson MP said:
“As inflation rises to a staggering 30 year high, the Conservative cost-of-living crisis continues to spiral out of control with no sign of the UK Government taking action to protect families and households.
“It seems the Prime Minister and Chancellor are too distracted by scandals to get on with the day job of protecting people’s incomes and livelihoods.
“Of course, it won’t be people like Rishi Sunak and Boris Johnson who are burdened by this crisis, rather ordinary households for whom slow wage growth and a complete lack of UK government support is preventing them from making ends meet.
“The UK Government must come up urgently with a real package of support to tackle the cost-of-living crisis. That should include a reversal to Universal Credit cuts, an increase to the real living wage, an uplifting of benefits and the turning of the energy support loan into a more generous grant.
"In Scotland, the SNP Government is using its limited powers to help families and tackle poverty, including by doubling the Scottish Child Payment and uplifting benefits by 6% - the Conservatives in Westminster should be learning from this, not undermining our progress in Scotland.
“People in Scotland are being hammered by the poor decisions and inaction from this failing UK Government. It’s clear that only with full powers vested in the Scottish Parliament will we be able to protect families, boost incomes, and tackle poverty.”
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