Liz Truss under pressure to increase benefits as Scots face 'choice between heating and eating'

Liz Truss is beneath mounting stress to maintain a UK Authorities pledge to boost advantages in step with inflation.

The Tory Prime Minister has to date refused to commit to an uplift in Common Credit score from subsequent April - regardless of warnings that some Scots are already being compelled to decide on between "heating and consuming".

It comes as anti-poverty campaigners known as for motion after a "heart-breaking" report revealed a "bleak image of a society in disaster".

The Joseph Rowntree Basis (JRF) discovered that just about one in 5 households on low incomes in Scotland have gone each hungry and chilly this yr.

Kirsty Blackman, SNP spokeswoman on work and pensions, known as on the UK Authorities to "get up to actuality" relating to the variety of folks left critically fighting the price of dwelling.

The MP for Aberdeen North mentioned: "Thousands and thousands are dealing with the selection between heating and consuming, extra are in a scenario the place they can not do both, and because the cost-of-living disaster continues, on a regular basis extra households are falling into, or additional into, poverty and destitution.

"Liz Truss should recall Parliament instantly to decide to following via on the Tories’ promise to uprate advantages, in addition to doubling the power fee grant to £800, reinstating the Common Credit score uplift, growing it to £25 and increasing it to legacy advantages, and scrapping debt-inducing insurance policies just like the two-child cap, profit cap and bed room tax."

She added that the JRF report was "a scathing of the UK Authorities’s response to the cost-of-living disaster".

The MP continued: "Th Tories disgracefully advised funding tax cuts for the wealthiest on the expense of low-income households, earlier than rightly U-turning after widespread condemnation".

Truss mentioned in an interview yesterday that new work and pensions Secretary Chloe Smith was "taking a look at" the DWP.

"She's going to make a dedication on that and we are going to announce that this autumn," the Prime Minister added.

However Truss refused to present a assure of a profit uplift in step with inflation in April 2023 - one thing her predecessor Boris Johnson had promised.

That is regardless of costs having risen 9.9 per cent in contrast with a yr in the past and the Financial institution of England anticipating inflation to peak at 11 per cent.

Katie Schmuecker, a coverage adviser for the Joseph Rowntree Basis, mentioned the PM's feedback will "have added to the mounting worry being felt by these on the bottom incomes".

"Failing to commit to assist people who find themselves already struggling to feed their households, cook dinner scorching meals and warmth their properties, when she has reaffirmed her intention to assist these on the very best incomes, is each morally indefensible and dangerous," she mentioned.

"There may be nonetheless time for the Prime Minister and her Authorities to decide to uprating advantages in step with costs, as is common, and keep away from committing this dangerous act of historic proportions."

Former Tory minister Michael Gove warned it will be "very, very, very troublesome" for his celebration to argue for a tax reduce for the very best earners whereas imposing real-term profit cuts.

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