The SNP has accused the Labour UK government of “betraying Scotland’s people and public services” by pursuing a programme of austerity measures, saying “unlike Labour, the SNP remain committed to delivering for Scotland and protecting households from more Westminster cuts.”
In a statement to the Scottish Parliament, SNP Finance Secretary Shona Robison emphasised the “impossible situation” that the Scottish Government has been put in, forced to act within a budget largely set at Westminster that now looks set to be cut by Labour.
Last month we saw statements from senior Labour figures confirm that “things will get worse before they get better,” indicating the need to find £22 billion worth of cuts in order to stick to Tory fiscal rules.
Commenting, Stuart McMillan MSP said:
“We in the SNP are enormously proud of our achievements in government, much of which required tough choices which were made in the best interests of the Scottish people.
“By sticking to our values, we have delivered some of the best performing public services in the UK, are lifting 100,000 children out of poverty and have made university tuition free – to name but a few.
“While the party of government at Westminster now bears the colour red instead of blue, that is the only change we have seen since the 4th of July.
“After mere weeks in power the Labour Party have made the choice to pursue the very same austerity agenda that the Tories are famous for via a programme of cuts that will harm families, public services and Scotland as a whole.
“And though our ability to deliver on Scotland’s priorities will be severely hampered by Labour’s choices, the SNP government will do everything it can to protect those who will pay the price.
“The SNP believe that a better, brighter future is possible with the power to properly invest in our people, our economy and our public services.
“If we had the power to determine our own future, that is what we would choose to do, and that’s what we’ll keep fighting for.”
