Describing the pressures on household budgets as a “humanitarian emergency”, Scotland’s first minister unveiled the annual program for government as the Holyrood parliament sat for the first time since the summer recess. The emergency legislation to protect tenants in private and social rented homes comes just months after the SNP and Scottish Green MSPs voted against a two-year rent freeze until rent controls are introduced in 2024. Sturgeon also announced an increase in Scotland’s Child Payment – which she described as “the most ambitious measure to reduce child poverty in the UK” – from £20 to £25 a week for each eligible child from November. But the SNP leader also warned of “difficult choices” as she set out the growing constraints on the Scottish budget, describing Holyrood’s powers to tax and borrow as “woefully inadequate” and warning “we cannot do everything, in more normal times, I would like to do.” Scotland referendum: Nicola Sturgeon warns Liz Truss not to ‘obey the rules’ – video Inflation meant her government’s budget today was “worth a staggering £1.7bn less than when it was published last December”, she told MSPs, pointing out that hard-won public sector pay deals – concluded in last Friday to stop a new wave of strikes – costing £700m more than budgeted. Plans for an emergency budget review to “maximize the help we can give – while balancing the books” depend on the new prime minister’s immediate actions, he added. “If Liz Truss decides to pay for irresponsible and regressive tax cuts by slashing spending on public services, it could mean an immediate cut to the Scottish budget,” Sturgeon said. Her deputy, John Swinney, is due to make a separate financial statement on Wednesday. Further commitments included:
ScotRail fares are frozen until at least March 2023. Extension of free school meals to 6th and 7th grade students. The legal creation of a national care service. A £25m Clyde decarbonisation fund to support zero emission heat projects and district heating schemes. A criminal justice bill to abolish the controversial no-proven verdict and establish legal anonymity for victims of sex crimes.
Sturgeon has also pledged to legislate for another referendum on Scottish independence on October 19 next year if the high court rules that her government can legally hold a second vote. Archie Bland and Nimo Omer take you to the top stories and what they mean, free every weekday morning Privacy Notice: Newsletters may contain information about charities, online advertising and content sponsored by external parties. For more information, see our Privacy Policy. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and Google’s Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. “This current crisis underlines – starkly – the pressing need for independence,” she said, with powers over borrowing, taxation and energy regulation vested in Westminster, leaving her government without the necessary levers to respond in this. But the leader of the Scottish Conservatives, Douglas Ross, said a second referendum was “unacceptable at a time when people are struggling”, adding that “the prime minister has changed, but unfortunately he is the same first minister who is blaming elsewhere and seeking a grievance with the United Kingdom. government”. Scottish Labor leader Anas Sarwar said: “No one will be surprised by the inclusion of a referendum bill today, but they will be disappointed at the waste of money and resources.” He added that he welcomed the change of heart by the SNP and the Greens on the rent freeze. Scottish tenants’ union Living Rent welcomed the freeze but warned: “We also know that rents are already very high and have risen by over 60% in Scottish cities in the last 10 years. This rent freeze should remain in place until the Scottish Government puts in place appropriate rent controls that will reduce rents.’ Responding to the announcement, John Blackwood, chief executive of the Scottish Landlords Association, accused the government of “attacking landlords for political reasons”, suggesting the proposals “will further reduce housing supply, putting more people at risk”. .
