Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton Constituency, has said that working families in Scotland are being hit by a double whammy of a National Insurance hike and cuts to Universal Credit.

Analysis from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation has found that around 150,000 working families in Scotland will pay on average nearly an extra £100 per year in tax while suffering a £1,040 annual drop in their income due to the ending of the £20 uplift to Universal Credit.

A survey conducted by Citizens Advice Scotland found that more than half of those in receipt of Universal Credit are worried about being able to afford food or other household shopping if the cut goes ahead.

Scottish Conservative MPs were elected on a manifesto promise not to increase National Insurance during this Parliament – a promise now broken by the Prime Minister.

Labour has said it will bring forward a vote in Parliament on reversing the government’s planned cut to Universal Credit.

Jackie Baillie MSP said:

“Families in our community and right across Scotland are being hit with a double whammy of tax increases and income cuts from the Tory government.

“150,000 families in Scotland now face both an increase in their national insurance, while receiving a £1000 a year cut to their incomes.

“Sadly, the SNP Government is unwilling to make the political choices to alleviate the damage the Tories are causing, such as by quadrupling the Scottish Child Payment.

“Labour will bring forward a vote in the House of Commons on reversing the Tories Universal Credit cut.

“Our shared social security system is a vital underpinning of the strength of the UK, so when that votes comes, Scottish Tories will face a choice between taking the side of hard-working families across the country, or Boris Johnson.”