Scottish Labour Commit to Delivering £100 Million of Emergency Support to Protect Jobs and Help Families

Scottish Labour Commit to Delivering £100 Million of Emergency Support to Protect Jobs and Help Families

Anas Sarwar has today said that if international instability continues to drive up prices for Scottish families and businesses, a Scottish Labour government would deliver £100 million of emergency support within its first 100 days.

The Scottish Labour leader said the party will not sit back and allow Scottish households and businesses to pay the price for the actions of the Iranian regime, Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu while John Swinney points the finger somewhere else instead of coming up with a plan to help Scots struggling right now.

Scottish Labour said the emergency package would be triggered if volatility continues after the election, ensuring Scotland’s government acts to protect families, jobs and businesses.

The £100 million package would be focused on practical emergency help, including:

  • crisis loans for energy-intensive businesses to protect jobs
  • bulk buying fuel to help drive down prices at the pumps
  • emergency grants or interest-free loans for households who are struggling, depending on their circumstances

A Scottish Labour government would also convene a summit with supermarkets and other partners to drive down the cost of staple items and help protect family budgets in the face of continued instability.

Scottish Labour said its plan would include a national income maximisation drive, with civil servants redeployed to make sure people get the support they are entitled to but are currently missing out on, such as help with childcare costs, pension credit and other financial support.

Commenting, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said:

“Everybody wants this war to end, but if the instability continues, we are not going to sit back and let Scottish households and businesses pay the price.

“Leadership is about finding solutions to problems. All John Swinney has done in the face of this crisis is point the finger somewhere else instead of coming up with a plan to help Scots struggling right now.

“Scottish Labour will not stand by and let Scottish businesses go to the wall, put Scottish jobs at risk, and force families to pay the price for the actions of the Iranian regime, Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu.

“I’m standing to fix the mess, get the basics right and build a better future for Scotland.

“That means emergency action in our first 100 days if this crisis does not ease.

“We will provide crisis loans to protect jobs in businesses hit by rising costs, we will bulk buy fuel to help drive down prices at the pumps, and we will provide emergency grants or interest-free loans to households depending on their circumstances.

“We will also use the power of government to maximise people’s incomes, so families get the support they are entitled to and do not miss out on help at the very moment they need it most.

“Scotland needs a government that acts, not one that moans.

“On May 7, vote Scottish Labour on both votes for the change Scotland needs.”

If after the election Scottish households and businesses are still facing crisis due to fuel prices and shortages, a Scottish Labour government will redirect £100m of funding into emergency support.

This will consist of crisis loans for energy-intensive businesses to protect jobs by ensuring business have access to resource to see them through short term price pressures. Emergency grants or loans will also be available for individuals and households who are struggling due to fuel pressure and prices hikes. Eligibility will be dependent on individual circumstances and Scottish Labour will work with banks, credit unions and consumer advice charities to identify those in need of support.

A Scottish Labour government will also bulk buy fuel to drive down prices and maintain supplies, especially in rural areas. Following the election Scottish Labour will also convene a summit with supermarkets to agree measures to reduce the cost of staples and protect Scots from food price hikes.

If the war and international instability continues, delivery of these loans and grants will commence within 100 days. Funding for this package will come initially from the unallocated ScotWind funding and additional resource available either through the reserve. Should the latter be unavailable, ScotWind funding intended for spending in future years will be repurposed and replaced when loans are paid back.