The Scottish National Party (SNP) has urged Chancellor Rachel Reeves to go "much further" in assisting households grappling with the cost-of-living crisis, accusing the Labour Government of neglecting the "squeezed middle."
SNP Demands Broader Support
Kirsty Blackman, the SNP's economy spokeswoman at Westminster, expressed concerns that the anticipated package of measures from the Chancellor this week would fall short of helping most families. She pledged to champion the cause of the "squeezed middle" in her new role and called for the removal of all VAT on fuel for the duration of the current energy crisis, which she attributed to the conflict in the Middle East.
Swinney's Public Health Responsibility
Scotland's First Minister, John Swinney, emphasised his "public health responsibility" to ensure affordable access to healthy food, having pledged to cap essential item prices. Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Swinney highlighted the difficulties people face in affording basic necessities, which impacts nutrition and falls under the Scottish Government's purview.
Proposed Energy Price Cap
Blackman is advocating for a new household energy price cap, which she claims could reduce bills by hundreds of pounds. This comes ahead of Thursday's expected announcement from the Chancellor. The SNP fears the measures will only benefit the poorest and will not take effect until autumn. Reports suggest Reeves may pause a planned fuel duty rise instead of removing VAT on fuel, as the Gulf crisis continues to pressure prices.
Criticism of Labour's Approach
Blackman criticised the Government's "long-delayed package," warning it would be a "slap in the face for millions of working people" and indicative of a Labour Government "completely out of touch." She stated, "The Labour Government has abandoned the 'squeezed middle' majority of hard-pressed families, who have seen their bills soar but are getting no help from the Chancellor."
She added that the SNP has pressed the UK Government for months to deliver urgent financial support, but they have "dithered, delayed and failed to lift a finger."
Energy Price Cap Forecast
Forecasts indicate that the energy price cap could rise in July, pushing average annual household bills to £1,973—despite Labour's promise to cut energy bills by £300 per year. Blackman insisted the Chancellor must "go much further to help families" by removing VAT on fuel during the crisis and introducing a new household energy price cap.
She noted, "The Labour Party promised voters it would cut energy bills by £300 but they will soon be around £700 higher than promised. It's not good enough for the Chancellor to leave millions of families in the lurch."
Scottish Support vs. UK Inaction
Blackman contrasted the situation in Scotland, where families receive "the strongest cost-of-living support anywhere in the UK" due to measures by Swinney's Government, with the UK Government's inaction, urging Labour to "finally step up to the plate."
A UK Government spokesperson defended their approach, stating: "We have the right economic plan to deal with prices rises caused by the war in the Middle East. It's not our war, we're not joining it, but we're not immune to its effects, which is why we're supporting families with the cost of living in a responsible way. That includes taking £117 off household energy bills and increasing the national living wage to give a £900 boost to millions of workers."
