Dr Scott Arthur

Dr Scott Arthur

Labour — Edinburgh South West

Speaking in the House of Commons on 11 November 2026

Debate

Employers

Contribution

I am really sad to hear about the Polly Tea Rooms in the hon. Gentleman’s constituency, but has he spoken to the IFS about cutting VAT? The IFS has said that cutting VAT would not generate the income that people promise, and I think the Treasury says the same. For businesses like the Polly Tea Rooms, I do understand the issue of the national insurance rise in the Budget of two years ago, but the other issue is the cost of living crisis, which is driven by something we have not spoken about in this debate at all: Trump’s war on Iran. Does he recognise those wider impacts on the economy as well?

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