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This week, we're looking at the impact of the Autumn Statement on workers and the importance of local action.
THE Chancellor of the Exchequer is set to present his autumn budget statement on Wednesday, with tax cuts on income, on inheritance and for business expected.
The Autumn Statement was initially meant to be laid out on Hallowe'en but was delayed as a result of the political and economic uncertainty caused during Liz Truss’s short tenure as prime minister.
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt is also expected to announce increased sanctions on benefits claimants.
Under the changes, hundreds of thousands of people with mobility and mental health problems will be told to search for work they can do from home.
The Scottish Budget will be announced less than one month later, on December 19.
Deputy First Minister and Finance Minister Shona Robison made a statement in the Scottish Parliament on Tuesday urging Westminster to prioritise investment on public services and criticising potential sanctions on benefits.
Will the autumn statement help workers?
The Times reported that Hunt and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak are considering tax cuts for “low and middle earners”.
However, they are also considering slashing inheritance tax, which would mean the richer are required to pay less despite earning more.
The STUC, Scotland’s largest trade union body, has called for council tax to be abolished and for a wealth tax to be introduced.
Hunt previously described his plans as an “autumn statement for growth”, yet proposed sanctions on benefits could see them reduced by £4680 per year.
Meanwhile, the Scottish Government said ahead of the Budget it was making £680 million in cuts as a result of “Westminster austerity”.
Robison said the Government had prioritised public services, but that “these come at a cost”.
A total of £10.5m is to be cut from the Future Transport Fund, in addition to £30m from the Energy Industries Capital Program, £3m from Marine Scotland, £6m from Forestry and Land Scotland, and £28m from agricultural budgets.
'The time for excuses is over'
Trade unions across Scotland have joined together to protest council cuts and the cost of living crisis in the run-up to the Scottish Budget.
The National exclusively revealed that trades union councils across the country were taking part in demonstrations against cuts to council funding, calling for the Scottish Government to act against the cuts.
The STUC said that 60,000 jobs have been lost from local government since 2007 with social care, transport and maintenance services facing cuts within communities.
Moray and Falkirk trades union councils were taking action over the weekend, with other councils set to take part in a month-long series of demonstrations.
Roz Foyer, general secretary of the STUC, said that the Scottish Government had the powers “to raise an additional £3 billion a year through income, wealth and property taxes, which could fund the public services we all rely on.
“The time for excuses is over," she said.
Industrial reaction
Unite members at Chivas Brothers, which owns several whisky distilleries, voted by 91.2% to take strike action.
The union represents hundreds of members at the Kilmalid, Dalmuir, Beith, Strathclyde Grain and Strathisla distilleries.
Unite members based at the Alexander Dennis Limited (ADL) factory in Camelon, Falkirk, are also set to take strike action from December 4 to 17, with 81.3% of members voting to take action.
The union represents around 400 coach builders and spray painters at the factory.
