Born in 1946 and brought up in Cupar, Fife, I was educated at the local school - 
Scottish families are paying the price of the Tories’ Brexit chaos after it was revealed that the price of Christmas dinner has risen by a massive 6 per cent since last year.
The UK’s cheapest traditional Christmas dinner, including turkey, vegetables and Christmas pudding, will cost 6 per cent more than last year, with manufacturers, businesses and consumers blaming the steep price rise on Brexit uncertainty and the instability of the pound.
Analysis by Good Housekeeping magazine reports that the price of turkey is up by 10.5 per cent, and Brussels sprouts are 10.7 per cent more expensive than last year. Christmas pudding is the item that rose by the most since last Christmas – it went up by 17 per cent from £3 to £3.50.The Trussell Trust recently warned that more people than ever are expected to use foodbanks this Christmas, with the minimum five week wait for payment for those moving on to the controversial new benefits scheme, coupled with colder weather, leaving families unable to cover the basic costs of living such as bills, food and other essentials.
Commenting, SNP MSP Stewart Stevenson said:
“Christmas is supposed to be a joyous time of year, but sharp inflation and rising costs are causing concern for businesses and consumers across the country – especially at a time when people tend to spend more money than usual.
“With food prices having risen significantly in recent years, and more people than ever before being forced to use food banks, the harmful effects of Tory austerity, stagnant wages, and shambolic Brexit negotiations are being well and truly felt this Christmas.
“For many families, the cost of Christmas can be challenging enough without having to foot the bill for price hikes on turkey, sprouts and Christmas puds.
“The Tories failure to keep down the cost of living and their insistence in dragging Scotland out of the single market and customs union is hitting families in the pocket – and this will be felt keenly this Christmas.”
“With food prices having risen significantly in recent years, and more people than ever before being forced to use food banks, the harmful effects of Tory austerity, stagnant wages, and shambolic Brexit negotiations are being well and truly felt this Christmas.
“For many families, the cost of Christmas can be challenging enough without having to foot the bill for price hikes on turkey, sprouts and Christmas puds.
“The Tories failure to keep down the cost of living and their insistence in dragging Scotland out of the single market and customs union is hitting families in the pocket – and this will be felt keenly this Christmas.”
