Renfrewshire’s politicians have given their opinions on the UK budget delivered by Chancellor Philip Hammond.
Gavin Newlands, MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire North, said: “The Chancellor’s Budget was yet again full of smoke and mirrors and represents more of the same failed austerity agenda from this failing Tory Government.
“It’s to be welcomed that the Tory UK Government have finally bowed to long-running campaign from the SNP and scrapped our police and fire services from being the only forces in the UK paying VAT. However, once again the budget fails to deliver for the 3.4 million WASPI women who have lost up to £40,000 in their pensions. The Tory Government have to accept that they are not going to go away and they should finally take action to help these hard working women.
“The Chancellor’s budget started to fall apart as soon as he left the chamber. The negative Brexit forecasts are coming and the Chancellor cannot run from them any longer. Renfrewshire businesses and households are demanding certainty about what Brexit will mean for them. It’s time that the UK Government wakes up to the economic mess that they’ve got the country into and abandon their obsession with austerity and a Brexit ‘no deal’.”
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.”
The highlights in the UK budget 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