In Prime Minister's Questions, the SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford called on Boris Johnson to apologise for an expected increase in the cost of living and called for him to “commit to an emergency financial package”.
Mr Blackford said there have been “serious warnings” over the last few weeks over the “Tory cost of living crisis which will hit the majority of families over the coming months”.
He cited research from the Resolution Foundation, saying on average families will be £1,200 worse off from April “as a result of Tory cuts, tax hikes and soaring energy bills”, saying for the Prime Minister the amount “is just a roll of fancy wallpaper”.
But Mr Blackford said for the majority of families it will be “catastrophic”, and for some it will mean they cannot pay rent or pay for heating or food.
The Prime Minister said “I find that criticism hard to take from the humble crofter”, and added “we are helping families up and down the country”, citing changes to Universal Credit and the increased living wage.
Mr Johnson said: “You’ve now got more people in work than there were before the pandemic began. That is because of the balanced and proportionate approach that we’ve been taking.”
Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner told the House of Commons “even the Tory backbenchers have finally accepted Labour’s call to cut VAT” on energy bills.
Ms Rayner said: “So will he (Boris Johnson) finally stand up to his Chancellor and do the same?”
Prime Minister Boris Johnson replied: “They now have the effrontery, having campaigned and she did too, didn’t she?
Prime Minister Boris Johnson speaks during Prime Minister's Questions in the House of Commons.
House of Commons
“Oh yes, she campaigned to remain in the EU. Oh yes, she did. They now they have the bare-faced cheek to come to this House of Commons and say that they want to cut VAT on fuel when everybody knows and he did too, everybody knows full well it would be absolutely impossible if they were to do what Labour would do and go back into the EU, remain aligned with the EU single market. That is the objective of the Labour Party. They can’t be trusted on Brexit and they can’t be trusted with the economy.”
Rayner accused Boris Johnson of being someone who “always gives with one hand and takes away with the other”, adding: “Under this Prime Minister the country is worse off.
“Prices for everyday goods are soaring out of control, hard-earned savings will be hit and the wages of working people won’t go as far.”
Ms Rayner said “serious solutions” are needed to stop people “falling into poverty or debt” as a result of inflation.
She added: “Instead, we have this Prime Minister and his incompetent leadership, and every time we are faced with a challenge he denies there’s a problem, he tries to laugh it off, he looks for someone else to blame.
“So can I suggest to the Prime Minister it’s not about brushing your hair, it’s about brushing up on your act. Does he accept his incompetence is taking our country backwards and costing our country dear?”
Boris Johnson replied: “No, what I tell the House and tell the country is that Labour incompetence has ruined this country time and time again.”