At last some good news on the cost of living - Ian Murray
As I've been going around South Edinburgh over the past few weeks, the cost of living has come up in almost every conversation.
In fact, it’s come up in some form in pretty much every conversation since Covid and the Tories crashing the economy. People are worried, and with good reason.
Wars in Ukraine and the Middle East are pushing up oil and gas prices, making everyone anxious about what comes next.
So it's genuinely good to be able to share some better news this month. April 1 and 6 were two of the highest cost-of-living days in recent memory, with a whole raft of changes coming into effect that will make a real difference to households across Edinburgh.
From last Wednesday, the National Living Wage rose to £12.71 an hour and the energy price cap came down, meaning an average reduction of £117 on household bills, on top of the £150 Warm Homes Discount for millions of low-income households.
Most other benefits rose in line with inflation and a new £1 billion Crisis and Resilience Fund launched this month, offering cash payments and housing support to families in real difficulty.
From Monday, the State Pension went up to £241.30 a week, the two-child limit was removed, expected to lift over 450,000 children out of poverty, and new employment rights came into force, including Statutory Sick Pay and paternity leave from day one of a job. That last one is close to my heart, having been the first serving Secretary of State to take paternity leave.
These things don't happen by accident. They are the result of deliberate choices: six interest rate cuts since July, the 5p fuel duty cut extended through to August and a serious push towards clean energy by 2030 that will make us less dependent on volatile global fossil fuel markets.
None of that insulates us completely from what's happening in the world, and I won't pretend otherwise. But the direction of travel is right and the Chancellor has been clear that the government is ready to go further if further help is needed.
Which brings me to something that isn't good enough. While April brings good news for workers and families, Scotland's businesses are facing real difficulties.
This week it emerged that some live music venues, like the ones I utilised for events before entering politics, are facing business rates bills rising from £111,000 a year to £645,000, and will have to let staff go as a result. That is one example, but it is far from alone.
The Scottish Retail Consortium estimates that shops in Scotland will pay £54 million more in business rates than their counterparts in England this year due to SNP decisions. That is a serious competitive disadvantage, and it falls on the Scottish Government to address it.
Anas Sarwar is right that the current system is broken and needs to be fixed, and that is exactly what a Scottish Labour government would do after next month's Holyrood election.
Politicians rarely get to deliver straightforwardly positive news, especially in the current global situation, but this April is a bit different.
The wage rise, the pension boost, the lower energy bills: these will be felt in real, practical ways by families across Edinburgh South from this month.
There is always more to do, and I'll keep making the case until every household and business here can face the months ahead feeling a bit more secure - and resolveing international conflict will help.