SNP Westminster leader Dave Doogan criticised the UK Government’s continued freeze on the tax-free personal allowance, arguing that it leaves workers worse off amid cost-of-living pressures. The criticism prompted accusations of hypocrisy because the SNP-led Scottish Government has used devolved income-tax powers to raise taxes for many Scottish earners and freeze several higher-rate thresholds.

The personal allowance has remained at £12,570 since 2021-22; a House of Commons Library analysis cited in the article estimates it would reach about £17,440 by 2030-31 if uprated with inflation, making workers £974 worse off by then. In Scotland, people earning above £33,500 currently pay more income tax than elsewhere in the UK, while the 2026-27 Scottish Budget froze higher, advanced and top-rate thresholds; increases to the basic and intermediate thresholds offer savings of up to £31.75 annually.