The new SNP Westminster leader has stated that Labour has not "learnt the lessons of its election defeat" in Scotland, as uncertainty continues in Downing Street.
Call for Emergency Budget
SNP MP Dave Doogan is urging the UK Government to bring forward an emergency cost-of-living budget to assist families, rather than being "stuck in paralysis." He is calling on the Chancellor to announce an emergency budget this month, which would deliver an urgent package of financial support. Key measures proposed include removing VAT on fuel until the crisis ends, scrapping the Labour Government's fuel duty hike, and introducing a household energy price cap.
Criticism of Labour's Focus
Mr Doogan remarked: "This week of Westminster chaos has shown the Labour Government hasn’t learnt the lessons of its election defeat and is repeating the same mistakes that saw it hammered at the polls. It’s not all about Keir Starmer and rearranging the deck chairs at Westminster." He added that people voted for real change, but none has been forthcoming. They voted for urgent action on the cost of living emergency, yet the Labour Government remains stuck in paralysis and has not announced a single measure to help. Instead, they are only talking about themselves, squabbling over who gets to be leader, while plunging the UK into another crisis of their own making. He noted that this has been going on for two years, with the Labour Government spending more time discussing whether Keir Starmer can survive than anything else.
Growing Uncertainty at Westminster
Mr Doogan's comments come amid rising uncertainty at Westminster, with growing calls for the Prime Minister to resign. On Thursday, Wes Streeting resigned as health secretary. Mr Doogan acknowledged that the UK Government should "settle this crisis," but emphasised that people across the country are not interested in Labour infighting. He stated: "Yes, we need to break this impasse and settle this crisis – but people aren’t interested in whether Wes Streeting or Andy Burnham get to further their own careers, they want urgent help with soaring bills and a better future from the terminal decline of Broken Brexit Britain."
Demands for Immediate Action
He reiterated the call for an emergency cost-of-living budget this month, providing real financial support to households. This includes removing VAT on fuel, scrapping the fuel duty hike, and introducing a Household Energy Price Cap to reduce bills by hundreds of pounds. Mr Doogan concluded: "Every day it fails to act, and focuses on itself, Westminster is showing people in Scotland why they need the fresh start of independence to lower bills and build a better future."
