A NEW study has estimated that the Tory’s real-term benefits cut, due to take effect in April, could plunge 400,000 more people into poverty.
The Joseph Rowntree Foundation’s analysis reveals that there could be a severe impact on households across the UK, as benefits are uprated by a mere 3.1% while inflation rises by 7%.
The study also suggested that around nine million households on means-tested benefits could face a real-term cut of £500 per year.
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Earlier this month, Rishi Sunak announced measures to mitigate the impact of the rise of the energy price cap and the cost of living crisis with a state-backed loan, but the SNP say this is not enough.
Commenting on his policies, SNP Shadow Chancellor, Alison Thewliss, has urged Rishi Sunak to stop "focusing on a Tory leadership contest" and introduce an emergency budget to deal with the crisis.
She suggests the budget should include a real living wage, reversing the Universal Credit cut, matching the Scottish Child Payment and turning the planned energy loan into a grant.
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Thewliss said: “This Tory-made cost of living crisis is hammering families across all four nations of the UK.
“It is time for the Chancellor to stop focusing on a Tory leadership race, and instead deliver meaningful change to help those being hit hardest by his government’s policies.
“In order to do this, Rishi Sunak must introduce an emergency budget that delivers a Real Living Wage, reverse the £1040 cut to Universal Credit, match the SNP Scottish government’s game-changing Scottish Child Payment, and change his callous energy loan into a more generous grant.
“However, for as long as the Chancellor ignores these calls, he will continue to undermine Scotland’s efforts to help families tackle this crisis. For every step we take forward, billionaires like Rishi Sunak drag us back.
“That is why the only way to keep Scotland safe from this corrupt, dysfunctional, outdated Westminster system is to become an independent country, with the full powers needed to build a fairer society for all.”
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