Renfrewshire’s politicians have given their opinions on the UK budget delivered by Chancellor Philip Hammond.
The highlights for Scotland include:
- VAT will be scrapped for Police Scotland and Scottish Fire and Rescue
- Scotland will receive an extra £2bn from Westminster as park of the Block Grant
- A freeze on spirits duty
- Fuel duty will be frozen, with support for islands extended
- £3.3m support for Scottish charities
Mhairi Black MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire South, said: “This budget is uninspiring and out of touch with the hardships that so many in society are currently facing.
“There are things to be welcomed, including increasing the minimum wage, but to continue calling it a living wage is an insult to the intelligence of the public.
“Tinkering around the edges of Universal Credit will not solve the gargantuan problems it will create for so many when it rolls out in full. Issues around the six-week waiting period, and issues for the self-employed will still be there.
“The issue of the Scottish Police and Fire services being charged VAT was finally addressed, but not before the Chancellor credited the Scottish Tories for bringing this issue to his attention. To be clear, the SNP raised this issue 140 times in Westminster and were ignored. It seems the Chancellor was really saying vote how we want you to vote or we’ll starve your public services.”