IT is "beyond crass" for the Tories to take credit for a drop in inflation when people are still feeling the sting of the cost of living crisis, the SNP have said.
The party's economy spokesperson Drew Hendry said that despite statistics showing Consumer Prices Index inflation was 4.6% in October – down from 6.7% in September – mortgage and food costs remain "stubbornly high".
Hendry further insisted it was misleading for the UK Government to boast about the figures while millions continue to battle with putting food on the table.
In January, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak made halving inflation the first of his “five pledges”. At the time, the CPI rate stood at 10.7%.
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But experts have said claims UK Government action has led to the drop are "dubious".
Hendry said Chancellor Jeremy Hunt must still use next week's Autumn Statement to bring back the £400 energy bill rebate.
He said: "The news that inflation has dropped is welcome after it remained so high for so long, but people will continue to feel the effects of sky-high costs for some time.
"It is misleading for the UK Government to try to take credit and beyond crass for Rishi Sunak to claim victory as millions continue to struggle through Westminster’s cost of living crisis.
“Mortgages, rent, food prices, energy bills and other basics like home and car insurance remain stubbornly high.
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"That is why the Chancellor must use next week’s autumn budget to bring in cost of living support, including bringing back the £400 energy rebate and mortgage tax relief, and taking action on high food prices.
“If the Westminster government refuses to act, then it must devolve the key powers to Scotland. Scotland shouldn’t have to pay the price of bad decisions made by Westminster governments we don’t vote for.
"By repeatedly failing to act, Westminster is showing why Scotland urgently needs the full powers of independence so we can grow the economy and boost household incomes."
Rising interest rates and falling global energy prices have been singled out as key reasons for the fall in inflation.
Suren Thiru, economics director at the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, said: “While the Prime Minister has achieved his target to halve inflation this year, this owes more to the downward pressure on prices from falling energy costs and rising interest rates than any Government action.”
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