The SNP has said the Tory Queen’s Speech “completely failed” to deliver the investment and fundamental change required to build a strong, fair and equal recovery – instead imposing the long-term damage of Tory cuts, Brexit and a power grab against Scotland’s will.
Responding to the plans, Ian Blackford MP said “damaging Tory austerity cuts are threatening Scotland’s recovery” with the Tory government “repeating the same mistakes of the last economic crisis” by imposing a public sector pay freeze, cuts to Universal Credit and a “savings and efficiency review” of public services – instead of delivering an investment-led recovery.
The SNP Westminster Leader said Boris Johnson must respect the will of the Scottish people and their democratic right to choose their own future – after the SNP was elected with a cast-iron mandate to hold a post-pandemic independence referendum.
Commenting, SNP Westminster Leader Ian Blackford MP said:
“Boris Johnson has completely failed to deliver the investment and change required to build a strong, fair and equal recovery.
“Instead the Tories are imposing the long-term damage of austerity cuts, Brexit and a power grab against Scotland’s will.
“The Tories are repeating the same mistakes they made after the last economic crisis, by forcing through damaging cuts that are threatening Scotland’s recovery.
“Instead of building a fairer society, the Tories are entrenching inequality and pushing people into poverty by imposing a public sector pay freeze, cuts to Universal Credit, and an “efficiency review” of public services.
“This should have been an ambitious plan for an investment-led recovery – with a major fiscal stimulus to create jobs, raising incomes with a real living wage, and boosting NHS and social care investment to the levels we see in Scotland.
“Instead the Tories are imposing cuts, introducing Trump-like voter suppression and attacking the rights of refugees.
“Scotland is on a completely different political path to Westminster.
“Once the crisis has passed, Boris Johnson must respect the will of the Scottish people to determine our own future in a post-pandemic independence referendum, so we can make the long-term changes needed for a strong recovery and a fairer country.”