TUPPENNY TWIT
Tories’ cut-price budget bribe Hunt warned over risks to NHS as he trims national insurance
The Tories have been warned that the “future of the NHS is at stake” ahead of the Chancellor’s Budget today.
The SNP has urged Jeremy Hunt to increase NHS spending, invest more in green energy, give energy support to struggling families and tax the rich more. Labour has warned that “nothing the Chancellor says or does can undo the economic vandalism of the Conservatives over the past decade.” Hunt is expected to announce a 2p cut in national insurance rather than the dearer option of a 2p reduction in income tax. A cut in national insurance will affect
Scotland, whereas an income tax cut would not have.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak had hinted at a “union tax cut” at Scottish Tory conference last weekend.
SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn urged Hunt not to cut taxes and to instead use the available headroom to deliver more money for public services.
He said: “It’s increasingly clear the future of the NHS is at stake – and the SNP is the only party standing up for our NHS by demanding the funding it needs.
“The UK Government has already slashed Scotland’s budget – and now the Tory Chancellor is cutting public services to the bone. It has to stop. The SNP’s message to the Chancellor ahead of the UK Budget is clear – don’t take the axe to our NHS.
“The SNP is calling on the Chancellor to use the available headroom to deliver a £15billion funding boost for the NHS, and tax the super rich to deliver a £400 annual energy bill discount for households.
“And instead of cutting capital investment, the SNP is challenging the Chancellor to go for growth by investing at least £28billion in the green energy gold rush and rejoining the EU single market.”
Labour Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves said the Tories’ Budget would not give the country the change it needs.