BORIS Johnson has claimed the paltry measures introduced by the UK Government to help English councils tackle the cost of living crisis make the case for the Union.
In an extraordinary claim in the House of Commons on Wednesday, the Prime Minister said policies introduced to provide more funding for councils south of the Border demonstrated the “vital strength of our economic Union”.
During Prime Minister’s Questions, Johnson was asked by Ian Blackford whether he would follow the Scottish Government’s lead in introducing the “game-changing” Scottish Child Payment.
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The SNP’s Westminster leader said: “If he’s really looking for ideas to tackle this Tory made crisis, he’d be wiser to look beyond his Cabinet colleagues – who of course know that he won’t be there for very much longer.
“As a parting gift, here’s an idea for the Prime Minister. The Scottish Government has introduced and now doubled the game-changing Scottish Child Payment of at least £1040 a year, helping those families who are being the hardest hit.”
The Prime Minister responded by listing some spending commitments made to English councils – which do not apply in Scotland.
Johnson said: “Of course it’s important to do everything we can to help families in a tough time and it’s why we’ve massively increased the funds available to local councils to support families that are in particular hardship.
“The holidays and activities fund, now running at £200 million is there as well.
“We will do everything we can to support families throughout this period when we’re dealing with the aftershocks of the Covid pandemic.
“But if I may so, I think this is another example – and he may not appreciate me pointing this out but it is true – is another example of the vital strength of our economic union and the importance of support from the UK Treasury, which is what he gets.”
It comes after the Prime Minister hosted a “talking shop” with the Cabinet, in which suggestions were taken on ways to ease the cost of living crisis without increasing public spending.
Suggestions included reducing the frequency of MOTs and providing more extensive childcare for parents.
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