Scot Lib Dems respond to bungled budget

Responding to the Chancellor's announcement of the Budget, Liberal Democrat Scottish Affairs spokesperson Susan Murray said:

“This was a bungled budget from a Labour government who are making many of the same mistakes as the Conservatives did.

“Labour was elected to ease the cost-of-living crisis and boost the economy, yet for the second budget in a row it has achieved neither. For the millions still battling rising bills, all this budget really delivers is more tax. And no change to the toxic hike in employer national insurance for small businesses.

“There’s the occasional positive step like lifting the two-child cap, a long-time Liberal Democrat campaign goal but overall this is thin gruel.

“The Government has deliberately turned its back on the single most effective step it could take to kick-start growth and fill the £90 billion Brexit-shaped hole in the public finances. No wonder our public finances are in such a rough state.”

Scottish Liberal Democrat economy spokesperson Jamie Greene said:

“There was precious little in this budget on how to grow the economy. A growing economy would expand the tax base and make it much easier to pay for great public services.

“There is also almost nothing in this budget to make life better for key Scottish industries.

“There was nothing for the whisky industry, nothing for our food producers facing the hated family farm tax and nothing to make up for this government’s complete contempt for Scotland’s fishing industry.

“Scots now have two economically incompetent governments.

“Liberal Democrats have set out practical and fiscally responsible plans to grow the economy and get Scotland moving again.”