SNP Warns of Another Brutal Budget Amid Rising Inflation

The UK is facing another brutal budget, according to the SNP's Commons leader Dave Doogan. He claims that Labour ministers are softening people up for a Westminster budget of cuts and tax rises.

This warning comes after Prime Minister Andy Burnham conceded next month's Budget will be 'challenging'. The latest official figures show inflation reached a five-month high, with Consumer Prices Index (CPI) inflation up to 3.1% in August.

The rise was linked to high petrol and diesel costs, with the Bank of England warning this week that volatile global energy costs could push inflation higher still. The prospect of a rates rise comes as some households are already facing an increase in energy costs come October, when Ofgem's new price cap comes into effect.

The SNP Westminster leader added: 'People will rightly be thinking that they are living through a bad case of Westminster deja vu.'