Shadow chancellor Sir Mel Stride has warned that SNP plans to curb the price of staple foods could lead to reduced supplies in shops across Scotland. The Conservative MP cautioned Scottish First Minister John Swinney that “intervening in the markets like that” might result in “some form of rationing, undersupply”.
Campaigning in Edinburgh
Speaking while campaigning in Edinburgh with Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay on Friday, Sir Mel argued that the First Minister and his party should instead focus on boosting the country’s economy. He criticised the SNP’s approach as “lamentable”, pointing to higher welfare spending and higher income tax for higher earners in Scotland.
Economic concerns
The shadow chancellor stated: “The way the SNP should be approaching things is making Scottish people better off so they can afford those items, that means having an economy that is growing. And that means on balance getting taxes down, particularly on businesses, who are the engine of growth, and not spending lots of money on welfare.” He added that artificially reducing prices diminishes the incentive to produce, leading to lower supply.
Sir Mel also raised concerns about SNP demands for a second independence referendum if they win an overall majority at Holyrood on Thursday. He said this would create “more uncertainty” for businesses and the economy, calling the independence obsession a “sideshow and a major distraction”.
Mr Findlay echoed these sentiments, warning that a second referendum would plunge Scotland “yet again into fresh constitutional turmoil”. He urged voters to use the peach-coloured ballot paper to stop an SNP majority, as they did in 2021.
Simita Kumar, SNP candidate for Edinburgh South Western, defended the policy, saying: “People are really struggling with the cost of the weekly shop – so the SNP will take action and introduce a legal price cap on a range of essential food items in big supermarkets.” She dismissed opposition claims as “nonsensical” and called for a vote for an SNP majority to deliver cost-of-living support.
