SNP MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Alasdair Allan has expressed his disappointment in the lack of support for Scotland’s island and rural communities, following the UK Labour Government’s autumn budget.
The implications of the UK Budget on the spending available for Scotland’s public services are yet to be fully calculated. Any increase there is, however, may well come down in large part to Labour’s capitulation to SNP demands to scrap the two-child benefit cap, which discriminates against children in larger families.
Allan commented:
“Following today’s chaotic Budget announcement, it is difficult to spot measures that will help islanders in these difficult times.
“We were promised that last year’s tax hikes from Labour would be a one-off, but instead we see a range of new taxes that diddle round the edge of the economy on everything on everything from electric vehicles to Irn Bru.
“Recent figures indicate 40% of Western Isles residents live in fuel poverty, and a quarter of island households live in extreme fuel poverty. The measures the Chancellor talked about to deal with energy costs still leave heating a home more expensive than it was when Labour came to power.
“Most of the anti-poverty measures the Chancellor introduced in England have already been introduced by the SNP in Scotland or indeed surpassed. Even those policies have only been introduced owing to a Labour backbench rebellion and SNP pressure. This is still the same Chancellor that attempted to make cuts to the elderly, disabled and vulnerable.
“Voters were promised change, but all we’ve seen is a rudderless Labour Government in London. In the meantime, the SNP Scottish Government continues to use its limited resources to mitigate the worst effects of Westminster’s economic mismanagement.
“It's time for Scotland to manage its own economic affairs with the full powers of independence so we can legislate economic policies that deliver for our islands. We certainly can’t afford to wait for decisions about our own taxes and public services to be made for us in Westminster.”
