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PRESS RELEASE

Press release: Distracted Johnson failing to tackle Tory cost of living crisis

Tory cuts, tax hikes and Brexit have pushed people into poverty

The SNP has said the UK government is "so caught up in scandal and distracted by sleaze" that it is failing to tackle the Tory cost of living crisis - and has called for an emergency financial package to support families and reverse rising UK poverty.

Leading an opposition day debate at Westminster later today, David Linden MP will say Tory cuts, regressive tax hikes and the soaring cost of Brexit have squeezed household budgets and pushed millions of families into poverty - but Tory ministers are failing to reverse the damage they have caused.

The SNP Shadow Work and Pensions spokesperson will say the Tory government can't escape the fact it's policies have left families demonstrably worse off - and he will urge Tory MPs to get rid of Boris Johnson without further delay so the UK government can focus on tackling the crisis.

Commenting ahead of the debate, David Linden MP said:

"The UK government is so caught up in scandal, and distracted by sleaze, that it is failing in its basic duty to protect people from the worsening Tory cost of living crisis.

"Tory MPs must finally show Boris Johnson the door so they can turn their attention to delivering the support that families urgently need and reversing the rising poverty on their watch.

"Twelve years of Tory cuts, regressive tax hikes and the soaring cost of Brexit have squeezed household budgets and pushed people into poverty. The Tory government cannot escape the fact that it has left families worse off and is failing to reverse the damage it has caused.

"Under Boris Johnson, the UK has the worst levels of poverty and inequality in north west Europe and the highest in-work poverty this century. That's not a record to be proud of.

"The UK government must finally introduce an emergency package to boost household incomes - reversing the Tory cuts to Universal Credit, matching the Scottish Child Payment UK-wide, delivering a low income energy payment, introducing a real living wage and raising sick pay.

"Tory ministers are making the case for independence by imposing cuts and failing to use reserved powers to tackle poverty. Independence is the only way to keep Scotland safe and the only way to secure the full powers required to eradicate poverty and build a fairer future."


Notes:

SNP opposition day motion:
That this House notes there is a cost of living crisis hitting homes across the UK; regrets the UK Government’s current plan of reductions in certain benefits and tax rises coupled with rising costs of the UK leaving the EU; is concerned that the UK has the worst levels of poverty and inequality in north west Europe and the highest levels of in-work poverty this century; and calls on the Government to take immediate action with a package of measures to boost incomes and reverse rising poverty, including reinstating the £20 universal credit uplift, introducing a Real Living Wage of at least £10 an hour, introducing an energy payment for low income households, and matching the Scottish Government's Scottish Child Payment for families across the UK.