The SNP has warned that Labour has lost control of food prices
and risks driving them up even further with tax rises at next
month's Budget.
The call comes after Britain's biggest supermarkets wrote to the
Chancellor warning that potential tax increases such as higher
business rates for supermarkets would inevitably be passed on to
consumers at the tills.
Labour came to power on the promise that they would bring the
cost of living under control but instead prices have continued to
soar under with energy bills rising by
nearly £300 and food prices spiralling.
The Food and Drink Federation warned last month that
the cost of supermarket essentials will rise by 5.7% by
the end of this year, on top of a 37% increase
in food and non-alcoholic drink prices since
2020.
MSP said:
“Successive Westminster governments have delivered more than a
decade of soaring bills and rising prices.
“Instead of getting better under Labour, things have got worse as
they have lost control. This warning from supermarkets shows that
they could get even worse if the Chancellor hits businesses with
more tax rises in her Budget.
“Whether it be Brexit, hiking employer National Insurance rates
or energy prices going through the roof - decisions taken at
Westminster are driving up the prices we all pay at the
tills.
“Unlike in the rest of the UK, the SNP in government is
supporting sustainable food production. This helps to maintain
food resilience through having a domestic food production base
which can reduce the impact of global supply chain shocks which
drive prices up.
“But with Westminster still holding the economic levers it is
only with the fresh start of independence that we can escape the
never-ending cycle of damaging decisions which hit our food
producers and drive prices up for all of us.”
ENDS
Notes:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c620gy43pe4o
https://www.themanufacturer.com/articles/food-and-drink-inflation-could-hit-5-7-by-the-end-of-the-year-fdf-warns/
