VOTERS are being “taken for an April Fool” by Prime Minister Keir Starmer as household bills soar, the SNP have said.
Energy, phone and broadband bills, as well as the TV licence and others, are set to rise on April 1, despite promises made by the Labour Party ahead of the last General Election.
SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn said that “families are paying the price” for the Labour Party’s failure.
During the election campaign, Starmer and his party vowed to reduce energy bills by £300, reduce the cost of living and deliver economic growth.
However, energy bills have risen by almost £300, the cost of food and other necessities is still rising and the UK economy is “tanking”.
Flynn said it showed the Labour Party “cannot be trusted”.
From April 1, the energy price cap is set to increase by a further £111. This is the third time prices have risen, with a typical household seeing an increase of £281 since the election.
Phone and broadband charges are also increasing, on average £21.99 annual for those on inflation-linked contracts and £42 for those on newer contracts where providers have to stake hikes clearly in “pounds and pence”.
Meanwhile, the TV licence is increasing by £5 to £174.50 and the flat rate car tax by £5 to £195.
“During the election, the Labour Party promised voters it would cut energy bills by £300, reduce the cost of living and fix Brexit Britain’s broken economy – but instead energy bills have risen by almost £300, the cost of living is soaring, and the UK economy is tanking –with growth forecasts slashed in half.
“With dozens of household bills rising this week, it’s clear families are paying the price for the Labour Party’s failure and broken promises.”
YouGov polling published on Monday revealed that nine in ten Scots and 87% of people across Britain think the Labour government is doing ‘badly’ at managing the cost of living.
Around two-thirds of people, 64%, across Britain think the UK will most likely face a depression or recession in 12 months time.
This is compared to just 4% who think the economy will be growing or booming.
Meanwhile, the Resolution Foundation has forecast that the poorest families will be £500 worse off, as a result of the Labour Government’s austerity cuts and the rising cost of living.
Flynn added: “Instead of imposing more austerity cuts on families, and a jobs-and-growth-destroying National Insurance tax hike on small businesses, the Prime Minister should be putting money back into people’s pockets like he promised.
“These price rises and austerity cuts are a warning sign to voters ahead of the Scottish election. They show the Labour Party can’t be trusted and they underline the value of a strong and compassionate SNP government protecting families from Labour Party cuts.”
We told how Health Secretary Neil Gray clashed with a BBC presenter over the definition of “austerity” and the impact of Labour policies.
It comes after Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced deep cuts to welfare benefits.
