The Scottish Government has had to spend £161,630 in Orkney in this year alone to try and lessen the damaging impact of UK Government policies.

Emma Roddick, SNP MSP for the Highlands and Islands has spoken out about the huge costs UK Tory policies are having on Orcadians.

In 2021/22 £161,630 was provided by the SNP Scottish Government in Discretionary Housing Payments to protect families from cuts, with £137,413 spent mitigating the impact of the Tory bedroom tax in Orkney.

Emma Roddick said:

“The introduction of the bedroom tax has been one of the cruellest policies introduced by this UK Tory government as it targets the most vulnerable in our society.

“The SNP Scottish Government has spent millions across Scotland, including in Orkney to protect households from the most devastating impacts of Tory cuts and policies. This is money that could be invested on pulling people out of poverty but instead the Scottish Government has to mitigate against the Tories pushing people further towards poverty.

“This demonstrates the tale of two governments facing the people of Scotland as we have one in London implementing cruel policies such as the bedroom tax, whereas we have one in Edinburgh investing in a social security system built on fairness, dignity and respect.

“However, the Scottish Government should not have to clean up the mess left by the Tories. That is why we must have the full powers of independence to build a fairer, more equal Scotland.”

Across Scotland £82million has been used to mitigate Tory cuts, with £71m spent to protect households from the bedroom tax.