SNP MSP Stuart McMillan has said that the Tory UK Government’s budget, announced last week, makes it clear that “independence is the only way give Inverclyde a fair recovery from the pandemic.”
The local MSP has said that the budget – which has been described by the head of the Institute for Fiscal Studies as “actually awful” for living standards – is failing the people of Scotland by not addressing the cost of living crisis, the Brexit crisis and the climate crisis, all whilst the Tory Government prioritise cuts to the cost of champagne and giving tax breaks to bankers.
Commenting, Stuart said:
“What the Tory UK Government has outlined in the UK Budget does not meet the ambition needed to build a fair and sustainable recovery and to tackle the cost of living crisis.
“It’s painfully clear that there will be no fair recovery from the pandemic under Westminster control.
“This Tory budget fails Scotland as a whole and doesn’t go anywhere near supporting people in Inverclyde, who are being hit by an energy crisis, a Brexit crisis, a labour shortages crisis and an inflation crisis under Westminster control.
“The UK Government budget is leaving families in Inverclyde hundreds of pounds worse off next year due to Tory cuts, tax hikes and the soaring cost of Brexit.
“The Chancellor has also turned his back on pensioners – with new analysis indicating they will lose £520 next year and a cumulative £2,600 over the next five years, because of the decision to scrap the Triple Lock.
“It’s little wonder that, in May’s election, the people of Scotland voted overwhelmingly for a different future when they gave the SNP the highest share of the vote since the dawn of devolution and a clear mandate for an independence referendum. Independence is the only way to keep Scotland safe from Tory cuts.”
