THE number of homes being repossessed has risen sharply across Scotland since the pandemic, triggering concerns over the impact of “Westminster’s mortgage crisis”.
Data commissioned by the SNP from the House of Commons Library, has revealed there were 1187 repossession cases initiated across Scotland during 2020-21 – up from just 91 the previous year.
The total was down on numbers recorded pre-pandemic, which stood at 2056 in 2017-18.
However a charity recently warned the number of people seeking advice about repossession evictions has increased three-fold in the last year.
Previous research has also found that a typical family in Scotland, on an average two-year fixed-rate mortgage of 6.85%, is now facing paying around £1130 a month.
That is a £439 more in interest per month, and £5268 more in interest a year, than they would have paid less than two years ago.
Speaking ahead of campaigning in Cambuslang for the Rutherglen and Hamilton West by-election, SNP candidate Katy Loudon said households were “paying the price” after the economy had been trashed by the Tory government.
Along with David Linden MP, the SNP’s social justice spokesperson at Westminster, she will today speak to locals in Cambuslang to hear more about how the cost-of-living crisis is impacting them.
The figures show there were 311 repossession cases in Glasgow and Hamilton last year – up from just 10 in 2020-21.
Loudon said: "The Tories and pro-Brexit Labour Party have trashed the UK economy - and households in Rutherglen and Hamilton West are left paying the price. We deserve better than Westminster’s mortgage crisis and Brexit.
"By voting SNP in this by-election you will be voting for real opposition to the Tories and to send a message to the Westminster establishment that we reject their mortgage crisis, their Brexit and their Tory austerity in favour of a fairer, wealthier Scotland with independence.”
Linden added: “Leading economists, including former Bank of England governor Mark Carney, have acknowledged that Brexit is a leading cause of the UK's higher and more stubborn rate of inflation, compared with our European neighbours.
"It’s time Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer realised that too and let go of their damaging ideological policy.
"It's essential that the next government - whether that be Tory or Labour - follow Scotland's lead by ditching their Tory austerity policies and matching progressive policies like the Scottish Child Payment, and helping those who are struggling to pay sky-high mortgages and rents.”
