THE UK Government is “pushing families into poverty", as analysis shows a drastic increase in the cost of living.

The SNP have slammed the Tory government after new analysis showed low-income households will spend an average of 18% of their income on energy bills.

SNP shadow work and pensions spokesperson David Linden said: "The UK Government is pushing families into poverty by failing to tackle the Tory cost of living crisis, which will hammer millions of low and middle income households.”

"While Tory ministers are focused on covering up Westminster sleaze scandals, and saving Boris Johnson's skin, they are failing to lift a finger to reverse the rising poverty and inequality they've caused, which has reached crisis point on their watch.”

The findings were revealed in the annual Joseph Rowntree Foundation report, which predicts the rise of energy costs from April.

"Under Boris Johnson, the UK has the worst levels of poverty and inequality in north-west Europe, and in-work poverty is at record levels this century,” Linden continued.

“Now the problem is becoming even worse – with the majority of families expected to be hundreds or thousands of pounds worse off as a result of Tory failure - a devastating blow.”

Single-adult households will be hit the hardest, with a rise to 54% of their income spent on energy in the coming years.

Lone parents and couples without children will also suffer, with a quarter of their income spent on energy bills – a rise of 21% from 2020.

Linden believes that the problem lies with the “appalling track record” of the Conservatives and called on the UK Government to follow Holyrood’s example.

He said: "The SNP Government is tackling poverty by doubling the Scottish Child Payment and introducing new benefits – but Westminster austerity cuts are undoing progress and must be tackled at the source.

"The UK Government must reverse its cuts to Universal Credit, match the Scottish Child Payment UK-wide, deliver a low-income energy payment, introduce a real living wage, raise sick pay and scrap damaging Tory policies like the bedroom tax and two-child cap, which have plunged people into poverty and hardship across the UK.

"Given their appalling track record, it's highly unlikely Westminster will take the bold action required. The only way to truly keep Scotland safe from Tory cuts is to become an independent country, with the full powers needed to eradicate poverty and build a fairer society.”