MSPs are being urged to come to their senses and vote down the SNP’s budget today (Wednesday), as further evidence emerges that Scotland faces a “welfare timebomb”.
The final debate and vote on the Nationalists’ proposals comes against the backdrop of reports showing that proposed changes to the Adult Disability Payment could add a further £1 billion to the cost of Scotland’s soaring social security bill.
The Scottish Conservatives have accused the SNP – and opposition parties who plan to nod the budget through – of “burying their heads in the sand” about the scale of the benefits black hole.
Shadow finance secretary Craig Hoy described the budget, which will further hike taxes on hard-pressed Scots to fund increased benefits spending, as “reckless”.
Scottish Conservative shadow finance secretary Craig Hoy said: “MSPs must belatedly come to their senses and vote down the SNP’s reckless and unfair budget.
“The SNP are in complete denial about Scotland’s ballooning benefits bill, and simply expect hard-working Scots to continually pick up the tab for it.
“The Scottish Conservatives are the only party to recognise that this is unsustainable, while the rest – including Labour, Reform and the Liberal Democrats – bury their heads in the sand.
“Scotland faces a welfare timebomb, and now we learn that planned changes to ADP could add a further £1billion to the benefits bill.
“It’s madness, the country can’t afford this. We oppose this proposed change – all other parties must rule it out too.
“Benefits spending must be reined in so that bills can finally be cut for scunnered Scots taxpayers.”
Notes to editors
https://www.thetimes.com/uk/scotland/article/snp-refuses-to-rule-out-paying-1bn-more-a-year-in-benefits-vg6wl05wk