BUDGET SHOWS UK EMBEDDING POVERTY
Responding to today's Budget statement, Green MSP Patrick Harvie says the Westminster austerity agenda is embedding poverty in society.
The Chancellor's announcements included tax cuts for people earning up to £100,000 a year, a commitment to cap welfare, while giving increased subsidies to wealthy aviation and oil companies.
Patrick Harvie, Green MSP for Glasgow and Co-convener of the Scottish Greens, said:
"Wages are down, people are taking out loans to pay for everyday items, and Scotland's biggest foodbank is struggling to keep its shelves filled. As poverty becomes embedded in society we see Tories and Libdems gloating over their Dickensian decay, with Labour offering to finish the job.
"Desperate diversionary tactics - flashing a thruppenny bit and tweaking bingo tax - make it clearer than ever that we have a Westminster elite laughing as they gamble with people's lives. We need to take control and build a new economy that works for the many not the few, and we have a chance to do exactly that by voting Yes in September."