UK Government must match Holyrood cost of living support, says MP Richard Thomson
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
The UK Government must act urgently to prevent an economic and social calamity, as the Scottish Government uses limited powers and budgets to assist with the cost-of-living crisis, according to Gordon MP Richard Thomson.
The Scottish Government has doubled the unique Scottish Child Payment and uprated eight of the benefits it has control over.
It is also mitigating the bedroom tax and the housing benefit cap – two debt-inducing policies brought in by the Tories at Westminster that the SNP has repeatedly asked to be scrapped.
Along with borrowing and the majority of fiscal powers, 85 percent of social security spending remains reserved to Westminster.
The SNP is urging the UK Government to use these powers to do what needs to be done to support people in Scotland and across the UK through this growing cost-of living crisis.
Commenting, MP Richard Thomson said: “The Scottish Government is using every fiscal and policy lever at its disposal to provide assistance to businesses and households during this cost-of-living crisis - but it’s time the UK Government stepped up and did its job.
“The uprating of social security payments must form part of a required emergency budget - as should immediate support for businesses drowning in a spiralling energy crisis, the reversal of the energy price cap increase (and implementing one for businesses), reforming energy markets from the ground up - and doing all this at pace.
"Westminster retains policy control over important social security, fiscal and energy matters.
"It is vital the zombie UK Government wakes up and acts.
“I am urging action now before millions are plunged into further financial hardship, more businesses fold, and more livelihoods are put at risk or lost altogether.”
