SNP 'acting more like commentators than government' on cost-of-living crisis, say Labour

The SNP is “acting more like commentators than a government” in response to the cost-of-living crisis, Labour shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves has said.

On a visit to Fife to highlight her party’s plan to tackle rising energy costs, Reeves said the UK government was “missing in action” and the Scotland was “being failed by two absent governments”.

Her party is calling for a freeze to the energy price cap at the current level, paid for by a windfall tax on oil and gas companies.

This would save Scottish households an average of £1,000 this year.

Extra help would also be provided to those on prepayment meters and in off-grid homes.

Speaking ahead of the visit to Scotland, Reeves said: “Labour’s fully-funded plan would fix the problems immediately and for the future – helping Scottish people get through the winter while providing the foundations for a stronger, more secure economy. Only Labour can give Britain the fresh start it needs.”

She will be joined at Catapult in Levenmouth, an offshore renewables innovation centre, by shadow treasury minister Pat McFadden and shadow Scottish secretary Ian Murray.

It follows Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar’s call on the Scottish Government earlier this month to introduce an emergency Cost-of-Living Act at the Scottish Parliament to provide urgent help to struggling families.

Scottish ministers have also previously urged the UK government to freeze energy prices, after Ofgem confirmed it was set to rise to £3,549 per year in October.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said the government and energy companies should agree to fund the cost of the freeze for the long-term, alongside “fundamental reform of the energy market.”