Tories must put an end to austerity

With the UK Government’s approach to Brexit driving inflation and forcing up living costs at the same time, their cuts to social security for working people are hitting household incomes.

It is time for the Chancellor to act and end this devastating austerity.

The SNP has already made clear that the pay cap will come to an end in Scotland, and ahead of the next Budget we will discuss a new approach to give public sector workers in Renfrewshire and across Scotland a new pay deal.

The Scottish Government is now engaging with trade unions ahead of the next Scottish Budget to discuss a future public sector pay policy.

This must recognise both rising living costs and the need for sustainable public finances in order to ensure fairer pay for nurses, teachers and all public sector workers in Scotland.

However, some public sector workers in Renfrewshire are covered by UK-wide pay policies and we want to see the cap come to an end for them as well.

The Tories must act now to confirm that the pay cap will come to an end, that there will be increased investment in public services and public sector workers and that they will bring a halt to this needless and excessive austerity drive.

There is a clear message going from Scotland to the Tories – end austerity and end it now.