When Rishi Sunak says people have to “adjust” to higher energy costs what he really means is that they have to prepare to live in poverty.
A third of Scots already had difficulty paying their bills even before the massive rise in the energy price cap announced yesterday.
Finding another £700 to pay out of a household budget is going to be hard, no two ways about it.
Another hike in the energy price cap is expected in October so it will be a real “heating or eating” winter for many of us.
The one-off discount of £200 gets the chancellor out of an immediate hole.
But that cash will have to be repaid later in five instalments at the same time as bills are expected to go up.
It goes nowhere near meeting the cost of living crisis people are facing.
Along with the National Insurance rise and inflation predicted to be at seven per cent, 2022 adds up to a horrible set of finances for people.
This year we are seeing the biggest fall in earnings since the 1990s, with a worker on £30,000 going to be £400 worse off this year.
The Tories are taking us further back to the stagnating 1970s of low growth, low wages and spiralling prices.
The resources and the finances have to be found to help Scottish consumers who face worse weather and more
rural fuel poverty than their southern neighbours.
We appreciate there is no money to burn but we have to find some way to heat homes next winter.
Pensions muddle
One of the big issues in the independence debate is what would happen to the state pension.
Scots are entitled to know how much they would receive and, just as crucially, who would pay it.
The latest high-pitched row between the pro-UK and pro-independence sides on pensions is not making things any clearer.
SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford says that, in the event of Scotland becoming independent, the UK would have an obligation to pay the pensions of those who had paid National Insurance.
Critics counter by accusing Blackford of making “inaccurate” claims – and pointing to UK Government comments that they would not pick up the tab for Scottish pensioners after independence.
The public are left scratching their heads and wondering who to believe.
If a second referendum is to take place, it cannot be marred by the partisan bickering of rival politicians – especially over such vital matters as the old age pension.
Voters need clear and accurate information so that they can make up their own minds.
