| Budget Blow for Poor Scots |
Commenting on the Emergency Budget delivered today by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Director of Poverty Alliance, Peter Kelly, said:
“George Osborne has made much of his efforts to protect the poorest in his first budget, but this package of changes will make life increasingly tough for those already living on low incomes.
The package of cuts to benefits will hit hard. The combined effect of the freeze on child benefit, restrictions on Housing Benefit, lower rates of increase for benefits and the increase in VAT means that the chancellor’s words about protecting the poor have a hollow ring.
Whilst the increase in the income tax personal allowance will help take more low paid workers out of the tax system, this will not help those already out of work or the thousands expected to join them soon. With massive spending cuts coming in unprotected parts of the public sector, this adds up to bad news for people struggling on low incomes and the services they rely on.”
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