Natalie Don MSP said:

“No matter what spin they try to put on this, we are in the current economic mess due to the combined actions – and inactions – of successive Tory governments and chancellors over the past 12 years.

“From practically crashing the pound and the emergency action from the Bank of England to save pension funds from failing, to doing nothing as energy companies raised their prices to eye-watering levels, the whole financial mess we are in is down to the Tories. Yet now they propose more austerity to make the rest of us pay for their economic failings.

“Yet again the Chancellor attacks the usual suspects – focusing on benefit fraud when it’s estimated that around £15billion of benefits go unclaimed. The policies of the DWP penalise those who need support yet this Tory government spends more chasing fraud in the benefit system than it does on tax dodgers.

“Although re-instating the Pensions Triple Lock is welcome it still doesn’t make up for the £500 loss from suspending the triple lock last year. The increases for pensions and benefits are still behind the current inflation rate which is expected to rise even further – ensuring that those who can least afford it are suffering the most under Tory policies.

“We will have to wait and see if the projected £1.5billion in Barnett consequentials actually makes it way to Scotland, but even if it does it doesn’t even cancel out the estimated £1.7billion loss to the Scottish budget due to the runaway inflation rates that have happened under the Tory mismanagement of the economy.

“Scotland deserves more than being tied to a failing economy which will never recover from the ongoing disaster of Brexit. We have another option – we need the full powers of an independent nation, to take control of our resources and build a stronger yet fairer society for all – and that will only come with independence.”