SNP: Use budget to boost incomes

The SNP has called on the UK Government to use this month’s Budget to boost incomes after what it described as a “decade of decline” in living standards. The party’s economy spokeswoman, Kirsty Blackman MP, said a string of measures, including halting the Universal Credit welfare changes and introducing the real living wage, could help the economy. She said: “The UK government must use the Budget to deliver a major and long-overdue boost to incomes – putting cash back into people’s pockets after a Tory decade of decline in living standards.” Last week Work and Pensions Secretary Esther McVey was forced to defend the new benefit system amid reports 3.2 million households will lose more than £2,000 per year. She told the BBC some people would lose out because the government had made “tough” spending decisions in 2015. But she insisted the most vulnerable would be protected. The SNP has also said called for the UK Government refund the £150 million VAT charged to Scotland’s 999 emergency services. VAT was charged between 2013 and 2017 after the creation of single police and fire services.