THE SNP has called on Chancellor Rishi Sunak to set out an emergency budget, as a new poll reveals a majority believe the UK Government is not doing enough to tackle the cost-of-living crisis.
The polling, conducted by More in Common, found that 71% of respondents from across the UK’s four nations – a 13% increase since November - believe Sunak and Prime Minister Boris Johnson are doing “too little” to help those affected by the crisis.
This follows a separate YouGov poll this week which indicated that 78% of Scots believe the UK Government does not have the right ideas and policies to tackle the cost-of-living crisis, and another from March showing that 84% of Scots are worried about increasing costs, 43% are “very worried”, and only 2% are “not at all” worried.
Sunak attracted controversy this week when, asked if more could be done to help those facing rising energy bills, Sunak suggested more might be done later in the year, but that it would be “silly” to do so now.
SNP Shadow Chancellor Alison Thewliss MP said: “With each passing day, we see new figures which highlight how devastating this cost of living crisis is on households. And yet, we have a prime minister and chancellor who refuse to act – labelling the idea of more investment as silly.
“There can be no more delays. People are struggling right now with the cost of living, and there is every indication things will only get worse. That is why I am urging the Chancellor to return to Parliament and set out a comprehensive package of support to people.
"This should include converting the £200 energy loan into a grant, scrapping the National Insurance tax hike, reversing the callous cut to Universal Credit, and matching the game changing Scottish Child Payment UK-wide.
“Failure to act could, quite literally, plunge millions of families into poverty.”
