Swinney tells UK Government to stop infighting and focus on reducing bills

First Minister John Swinney told the UK Government to focus on “fighting to reduce household bills” after reports of internal conflict within the Labour Party.

Mr Swinney made the comments ahead of the UK Budget, and urged the Prime Minister to focus on easing financial pressures and investing in public services.

He said it was “unacceptable for the progress we are making in Scotland to be undermined by Labour chaos”, ahead of a visit to the Institute for Government on Wednesday.

Speaking ahead of the visit, Mr Swinney said: “The big test for this Budget is whether or not it lowers family bills – and that includes energy bills”.

He said the Budget needed to focus on recovery from the pandemic, and said that Labour had delivered “rising bills and political chaos”.

Speaking ahead of his visit, the First Minister said: “It is no wonder Keir Starmer’s ratings are so low, with his ministers and advisers fighting each other when they should be fighting to reduce household bills.

“Every day, I speak to people who feel let down by Labour – a party that isn’t even trying to keep its promises.

“By contrast, under the SNP Government, NHS waiting lists in Scotland are coming down, GP numbers are up, child poverty is falling and the unemployment rate is significantly lower than elsewhere in the UK.

“It is completely unacceptable for the progress we are making in Scotland to be undermined by Labour chaos.

“People in Scotland rightly wonder why they face sky-high energy bills while living in a country of such energy abundance.

“The big test for this budget is whether or not it lowers family bills – and that includes energy bills. There is no good reason Scottish households are paying so much to keep the lights on.

“The Prime Minister promised change from the Tories but has delivered more of the same – rising bills and political chaos.

“Scotland deserves better, and the SNP will offer Scotland a fresh start with independence.”

A UK Government spokesperson said: “The Chancellor will deliver a Budget that builds stronger foundations to secure Britain’s future and focus on the priorities of working people: cutting waiting lists further, cutting the national debt and cutting the cost of living.

“The Chancellor also allocated the Scottish Government its largest ever settlement at the spending review, worth an extra £9.1 billion for public services in Scotland.”