The SNP has warned “Labour Party plans to take an axe to public services, and impose billions of pounds of austerity cuts, would be deeply damaging for Scotland and it breaks yet another election promise”.
It comes after leaked reports suggest the Chancellor is planning billions of pounds worth of cuts as a result of the Labour government’s failure on the economy and public finances.
Despite Rachel Reeves’ pledge to boost economic growth, the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) is expected to revise growth forecasts down – not up.
During the UK general election last year, the Labour Party repeatedly denied they would make austerity cuts when challenged by the SNP over the impact of their conservative fiscal rules, with Scottish Labour Leader Anas Sarwar promising “Read my lips: no austerity under Labour”.
Commenting, SNP Westminster Leader Stephen Flynn MP said:
“Labour Party plans to take an axe to public services, and impose billions of pounds of austerity cuts, would be deeply damaging for Scotland and it breaks yet another election promise.
“Voters were promised an end to Westminster cuts but instead the Labour government has stripped the winter fuel payment from Scottish pensioners, blocked WASPI women from getting compensation, and pushed thousands of Scottish children into poverty by continuing punitive welfare cuts like the two child benefit cap.
“The news that the Labour Party will now slash billions more from our public services is a total betrayal of what voters were told at the election – and it shows that neither Keir Starmer or Anas Sarwar can be trusted to keep their promises.
“Families in Scotland must not pay the price for the Labour Party’s failure on the economy, which is a consequence of their own damaging choices.
“That includes the political choice to stay out of the EU single market, which is wiping billions from the UK economy and public finances every year.
“In contrast, the SNP will always stand up for Scotland and we will strongly oppose any cuts that have a damaging impact on families and public services in Scotland.”
