The Labour Government have been accused of a “sustained assault on workers and businesses” across Britain after announcing £26 billion-worth of tax rises in the budget.
Rachel Reeves set out a host of punitive tax hikes, including freezing income tax thresholds for millions, and ignored pleas to scrap the Energy Profits Levy on the struggling oil and gas sector and Labour’s family farm tax.
At the same time, the Chancellor not only failed to tackle the ballooning welfare budget, but added to it by abolishing the two-child cap.
Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay said hard-pressed workers were being made to pay the price for a Prime Minister and Chancellor who are stifling economic growth by constantly raising taxes.
This crippling rise in bills will be most keenly felt in Scotland, where the SNP imposes the highest taxes in the UK.
Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay said: “Labour’s £26 billion tax bombshell continues their sustained attack on hard-pressed workers and businesses.
“After breaking their pre-election promises by hiking National Insurance and introducing the spiteful family farm tax in last year’s budget, Labour promised there would be no more tax rises.
“That was another lie from the Chancellor and Prime Minister. They’ve found more taxpayers’ cash to fund an out-of-control welfare bill but haven’t lifted a finger to help oil and gas workers or U-turned on the family farm tax.
“Our oil and gas industry faces an existential threat due to Labour and SNP hostility.
“With 1,000 oil and gas jobs being lost every month, Rachel Reeves’ refusal to end the Energy Profits Levy signals Labour’s contempt for an industry on its knees and communities across the North East.”