ANOTHER MISSED OPPORTUNITY FOR SCOTLAND

ANOTHER MISSED OPPORTUNITY FOR SCOTLAND

Responding to the Queen’s Speech today (Wednesday) SNP Westminster Leader, Angus Robertson MP, hit out at the UK Government’s failure to give priority to protecting Scotland’s economy, rule out planned cuts to the Scottish Government’s budget, and release £1bn of Scottish resources being withheld by the Treasury.
Mr Robertson said:
”Despite the eleventh-hour re-writes there were no surprises in the Queen’s Speech – just another anti-climax and a missed opportunity for Scotland.
”Labour’s leaks and trailers said the speech would focus on the economy – but what it did not mention is Gordon Brown’s plans to slash the Scottish budget by £1 billion, or why the Treasury is still withholding another £1bn of Scottish resources.
"It would be madness to cut the Scottish budget at a time when we hope to be emerging from recession and while the Scottish Government is making every effort to keep the economy moving forward.
”There is no priority in Labour’s plans for protecting Scotland’s economy – and we should be in a position during these difficult times to use Scotland's resources much more fully. There is no priority for helping the most vulnerable and low paid in these challenging economic times.
”With a record £13.2 billion North Sea revenues this year – and oil due to generate £55 billion of income in the coming six years, compared to £41 billion during the previous six – Scotland will be in absolute budget surplus, while the UK as a whole plunges deeper into deficit.
“In these circumstances, Labour’s planned cuts in the Scottish budget intensify the need for Scotland’s Parliament to be responsible for all tax and spending decisions. They are powerful arguments for independence. After the irresponsibility of Gordon Brown's economic mismanagement what Scotland needs is an age of responsibility.
"If Gordon Brown really wants to make efficiency savings, he should start by scrapping Trident and ditching plans for unwanted ID cards.
“At this time of economic downturn and substantial pressure on government spending, it is utterly irresponsible to waste billions on a new generation of unnecessary weapons of mass destruction, and unwanted and unneeded ID cards.
”The prime minister should also bring forward a timetable for withdrawal from Iraq. Apart from appalling human cost of the UK Government’s worst foreign policy decision in recent times, the economic consequences have also been hugely wasteful.”