SNP calls for special budget to ease life cost crisis

THE SNP says Westminster must give Holyrood an emergency budget to help the Scottish Government deal with the cost of living crisis.

The party’s shadow chancellor Alison Thewliss MP says the Tories have done nothing to support those hardest hit by the spiralling cost of living and says strong action needs to be taken.

She wants to see the government pledge extra emergency funding for Scotland in the Queen’s Speech tomorrow.

But the SNP is calling for an emergency budget to help those most affected by rising costs.

Ms Thewliss said: “The Tories have so far done nothing to support the families and households bearing the brutal brunt of this Tory-made cost of living crisis.

“Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak, too mired in sleaze and scandal to focus on the issues of the day, have directly plunged millions more into poverty and destitution, and without government action that number will increase exponentially.

“There are families who cannot afford to wait much longer and businesses on the brink of going bust – the Tories must stop sitting on their hands and get on with their job of helping the country through this crisis.”

The British Chamber of Commerce also appealed to the UK Government for an emergency budget.

Boris Johnson has said he will use the Queen’s Speech to reveal a “super seven” of Brexit bills to do away with unnecessary barriers inherited from the EU.

He said: “I call them the super seven – and they will benefit families and businesses across the land by changing old EU rules that don’t work for the UK.”

It is unclear whether the Queen will attend – Prince Charles is expected to stand in if she does not.

A spokeswoman for HM Treasury said: “We understand that people are struggling with rising prices, and while we can’t shield everyone from the global challenges we face, we’re supporting British families to navigate the months ahead.”