The SNP accuses Philip Hammond of “walking blindfolded into his Brexit budget”
The SNP has accused Philip Hammond of “walking blindfolded into his Brexit budget” ahead of the Chancellor’s appearance in the House of Commons later today.
With Hammond preparing to present his spending plans for the last time before the UK leaves the EU, the chancellor has said a new budget would be needed in the event of a no deal Brexit.
But the UK Government’s economic strategy came under fire from SNP MP Kirsty Blackman, who accused the Tories of pushing “the most vulnerable in our society into deeper poverty”.
Meanwhile Scottish Labour MP Lesley Laird also called for an end to austerity. She warned: “If the Chancellor fails to make good on his government’s promise then the Prime Minister’s remarks will be exposed as a cruel lie to the most vulnerable people in our society.”
Hammond is expected to announce an additional £2bn-a-year for mental health services today, with the extra cash forming the first part of the major NHS funding boost ordered by Theresa May earlier this year.
Schools in England will also be given money for specialist crisis teams to help pupils suffering from mental health conditions.
The money - which will rise to £2bn in real terms by 2023/24 - will be unveiled by the Chancellor in his major tax-and-spend statement this afternoon.
Hammond is also expected to use today's Budget to outline a series of spending pledges after the Prime Minister declared that a decade of government-imposed austerity was "over".
As well as the extra NHS money, he will pledge £30bn in spending on roads and a £1.5bn package of measures to help the country's flagging high streets.
It has also been widely reported that Hammond will pump additional cash into the Ministry of Defence and the social care system, while the Chancellor is expected to answer demands for a reversal of £2bn-worth of cuts to the Universal Credit welfare overhaul.
But Hammond on Sunday warned that his Budget plans could be torn up altogether if Britain crashes out of the European Union without a deal.
The Chancellor, who has previously put an £80bn price tag on a no-deal Brexit, said quitting the bloc without an agreement would require a "different approach" and a "different strategy" from the tax-and-spend plan he is set to unveil today.
The chancellor faced criticism from the SNP, with economy spokesperson Kirsty Blackman highlighting concerns over the Tory approach to broadband, pensions and welfare reform.
She said: “The Chancellor is walking blindfolded into his Brexit Budget. We know that any decision to take Scotland out of the Single Market and Customs Union – which is eight times bigger than the UK market alone – would be a disaster for our economy, household incomes and living standards.
“The Tories have presided over nearly a decade of austerity which has failed to get public finances in order and pushed the most vulnerable in our society into deeper poverty. Bound by their obsession with austerity, the Conservative Party have brought the UK to its knees, crippling working households and slashing support for those who need it.
“The handling of Universal Credit rollout has been a disaster and it needs serious investment to make it fit for purpose, with radical changes including the reinstatement of the work allowance, scrapping the inhumane two-child cap and restoring support from tax credits.”
Meanwhile Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland, Lesley Laird MP, said: “Thousands of people across Scotland will be looking at the Budget today with hope after Theresa May’s vow to end austerity earlier this month.
“If the Chancellor fails to make good on his government’s promise then the Prime Minister’s remarks will be exposed as a cruel lie to the most vulnerable people in our society.
She added: “Mr Hammond must halt the botched national roll-out of Universal Credit immediately and implement Labour's 10 emergency measures to alleviate the suffering of thousands who are already in receipt of it.”
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