Following the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement, it is even clearer that independence is the only way to keep Scotland safe from Tory cuts and Brexit decline after he imposed a new wave of devastating austerity cuts.

Commenting, Lanark and Hamilton East MP Angela Crawley said:

“The Tories trashed the UK economy – and now they are making people – including my constituents in Lanark and Hamilton East – pay the price for their failure with a new wave of painful austerity cuts.

“The Chancellor should have made fairer choices – properly taxing non-doms, banks and share buybacks as well as expanding the windfall tax to companies making excess profits – but instead he has chosen to impose devastating cuts to family budgets and public services.

“Mr Hunt should have followed the lead of the SNP Scottish Government by matching progressive policies like the Scottish Child Payment – but instead he has cut household incomes by raising energy bills yet again and imposing stealth taxes on families.

“My constituents in Lanark and Hamilton East do not want to see another round of austerity cuts which will only have a significant adverse effect on people and on public services.

“The only way to get Scotland’s economy on the road to prosperity is to become an independent country and regain our place in Europe. That is the best way to boost economic growth – and the only way to ensure Scotland never again gets Tory governments we don’t vote for.”