THE SNP have warned that families are suffering from a "Dickensian Tory Christmas Carol".

The party called on the UK Government to take meaningful action to boost household incomes in 2018.

SNP social justice spokesperson Neil Gray said households were facing a perfect storm of rising prices, falling wages, and cuts to social security, driving many families into poverty.

The MP said: “Millions of families across the UK are suffering from a Tory pay cut – as rising prices, stagnant wages, and cuts to social security continue to squeeze living standards and push households into poverty, debt and destitution.

“Under the Tories the UK now faces the longest period of falling living standards since records began, and families have been hit by two decades of lost wage growth – with average earnings not expected to return to 2007 levels until 2025.

“It is utterly appalling that many families will spend this festive season living through some kind of Dickensian Tory Christmas Carol – forced to rely on emergency aid and foodbanks just to get by.

“Families cannot afford another year of falling wages and Tory cuts. With 2018 fast approaching it is vital that the UK government finally takes meaningful action to boost incomes. This must include delivering a real living wage, ending the public sector pay cap, reversing the benefits freeze, and protecting the UK’s vital place in the single market and customs union.”

Analysis of the UK Budget by the Resolution Foundation found that the UK faces the longest period of falling living standards since records began, with real household dispoable incomes set to fall for 19 successive quarters between 2015 and 2020.

Last month, a report by Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) suggested that working families with children have been hit hardest by Tory cuts, and that cuts to Universal Credit could push one million more children into poverty.