During an SNP Opposition Day Debate in Westminster on Wednesday 14th June, my colleagues and I called for the UK Government to set up a dedicated Cost Of Living Committee – to better understand the impact of Brexit and the cost-of-living crisis and to explore possible solutions to these matters.
In rural constituencies like Argyll & Bute, the impact of this crisis is felt particularly hard, and the UK Government must, as the Royal Society of Edinburgh have suggested, rural-proof any future legislation on this matter, so to protect those living in areas where everything from food, to electricity, to petrol is vastly more expensive.
Recent data shows that households in rural and island settings are at far greater risk of fuel poverty, pay comparatively extortionate energy bills due to being off-grid, and have a substantially lower median income than those in urban areas . This Tory Government need to take meaningful action to support rural communities and stop playing postcode lottery with people’s lives.
That is why the SNP are calling for this new Committee, so that cross-party Parliamentarians can effectively scrutinise the Government, and make steps towards introducing legislation that protects those most vulnerable to this ongoing crisis.
You can view my full contribution below.
