FAMILIES will today be around £4,000 worse off as they’re hit by a fresh round of bill hikes, it is claimed.
Tories released analysis showing most of the employer’s National Insurance increase will be passed on to workers through lower wages.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves, seen out jogging ahead of the bill hikes[/caption]
That will wallop households for £3,536 over the course of this Parliament, along with other eye-watering rises on a string of household bills that could hit Scots families for more than £500 a year extra.
Citizens Advice Scotland’s David Hilferty said: “The fact so many bills are going up significantly on the same day is hugely concerning.”
And Tory MSP Craig Hoy hit out: “April Fool’s Day will feel like a sick joke to hard-pressed Scots facing a financial assault from two high-tax, left-wing governments.
“The SNP Government’s chronic underfunding of local authorities means that Scots, already taxed more than any other part of the UK, face inflation-busting council tax and water bill rises.”
Chancellor Rachel Reeves, seen out jogging on Monday, came under fire for the NICs rise plus the energy price cap increase of £111 per year for a typical home — despite Labour vowing to cut charges over the parliament.
The TV licence is increasing by £5 to £174.50 and standard rate car tax is also up by a fiver to £195.
Phone and broadband charges are set to send bills up by an average of £21.99 a year for those on inflation-linked contracts and £42 for those on newer plans
And the Scottish Government has been blamed for fuelling the cost-of-living pinch with the biggest council tax hikes for decades — of up to 15.6 per cent.
Scottish Water is also raising charges by 9.9 per cent, or an average of £44 per year.
And ScotRail is increasing train fares by 3.8 per cent today.
Scottish Lib Dem economy spokesman Willie Rennie said: “This is going to hurt.
“Both Labour and the SNP have made the wrong decisions, now everyone is paying the price.”
SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn said: “Voters are being taken for an April fool by Keir Starmer, who has broken his promise to cut bills.”
Labour said it was “taking tough action to tackle the cost of living” including raising the minimum wage.
It pointed to protecting the state pensions triple-lock, and freezing fuel duty to save the average driver nearly £60 a month.
Families have been warned that they could be £4,000 worse off[/caption]
