Andy Burnham urged to reverse UK National Insurance increase

Analysis by the Scottish Parliament Information Centre shows the 2024 rise in employers’ National Insurance adds an average of £890 per worker earning the real‑living wage and £1,053 for median‑salary employees in Scotland. The SNP has called on Andy Burnham, set to become prime minister, to scrap the hike, saying it “has destroyed jobs” and raises business costs by about £1,000 per employee. Chancellor Rachel Reeves defended the measure as necessary to fund public services, noting a £29 billion annual boost for the NHS. Burnham’s spokesperson affirmed commitment to growth, higher living standards and easing cost pressures, while the SNP argues the policy harms investment and employment across Scotland and the wider UK.