Nicola Sturgeon calls for emergency meeting on cost of living

Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has called for an emergency meeting with the Prime Minister and Heads of Devolved Government Council to discuss cost of living measures.

The news comes as independent analysis predicts energy bills will rise even further in January and reach as high as £4,210 a year.

The First Minister has written to Prime Minister Boris Johnson urging the suggested September meeting be brought forward due to a ‘fast deteriorating’ situation.

If held the meeting would allow the UK Government and devolved governments to formulate an effective plan of action for the long-term.

Nicola Sturgeon said: ‘While we will continue to take all actions available to us within devolved responsibilities and budgets – the Scottish Government is investing almost £3 billion this year in a range of measures which will help address the cost of living pressures – it is a statement of fact that many of the levers which would make the biggest difference lie with the UK Government.

‘It is also the case that only the UK Government can access and make available resources on the scale required. Therefore, actions by devolved governments alone – though important  – will not be enough to meet the unprecedented challenges we face. 

‘Action is needed now to address significant gaps in help for households, in particular those on low incomes, who are increasingly vulnerable to the impact of rising household costs.’

She said it was vital for the governments to get together to control the crisis or it could reach unprecedented levels, leaving many households struggling.

Support packages should be primarily targeted to support low-incomes households, according to the First Minister, as the impact of the crisis isn’t affecting everyone equally.

‘The current crisis requires clear, focused and determined leadership and co-operation to develop and deliver – at pace – a package of interventions to protect those most impacted,’ she said.

The Scottish Government Resilience Room (SGoRR) will be meeting this week to discuss what steps can be taken to urgently ease the burden on households across Scotland.

Photo by Serge Taeymans