Scottish Resistance stage Budget 2016 protest in Glasgow

Sean Clerkin burns a copy of a Tory welfare reform paper in Glasgow's George Square. Picture: John Devlin/TSPL

Sean Clerkin joined two other pro-independence activists in George Square to burn a copy of a 2012 welfare reform speech made by David Cameron.

“We’re burning this document because George Osborne is cutting the budgets of the poor,” said Mr Clerkin, a veteran anti-poverty campaigner.

“This is a Tory document we’re burning here in public in George Square today to say no to austerity and no to George Osborne’s budget.

“We don’t want the Tories in Scotland because they want to punish the poor for being poor.”

Mr Osborne announced today the tax-free personal allowance would rise to £11,500 in April 2017 and said the disability benefits bill would increase in real terms.

Opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn dubbed the chancellor’s speech “a budget of failure.”

The Scottish Resistance previously made headlines in January when a small number staged a protest outside the Tunnock’s confectionary factory in Uddingston.

The firm had been accused of severing its Scottish roots following the launch of its latest marketing campaign in England.