ALL THREE LONDON POLITICAL PARTIES WANT TO SLASH SPENDING WHEN SCOTLAND IS IN SURPLUS.

ALL THREE LONDON POLITICAL PARTIES WANT TO SLASH SPENDING WHEN SCOTLAND IS IN SURPLUS.

SNP STEWART HOSIE ON CONSERVATIVE EXPENDITURE CUTS ANNOUNCEMENT.

Commenting on the speech by Tory leader David Cameron today [Monday] in which he sets out plan to cut spending by £5 billion in 2009/10, the Scottish National Party’s Westminster Treasury Spokesperson Mr Stewart Hosie said:

“All three London parties now want to slash Scottish spending, which is extraordinary and would be hugely damaging as the UK moves into the teeth of recession. The Tories want to cut Scottish spending by around £500 million this year, Labour want to cut it by the same amount the year after and again the year after that, and the Liberals want to cut spending now with their foolish plan to lop £800m from Scotland’s budget by reducing income tax by 2p.

“As the SNP Government brings forward its Budget plans, none of the Unionist parties have a leg to stand on in calling for extra expenditure as they all want to slash Scottish spending.

“Yet while the UK as a whole plunges into recession and deeper into deficit, Scotland is in budget surplus, with a record £13.2 billion North Sea revenues forecast this year.

“The London parties’ planned cuts in the Scottish Government’s budget are indefensible – they intensify the need for Scotland’s Parliament to be responsible for all tax and spending decisions.

“If savings need to be made, let’s scrap useless and expensive ID cards – and the obscenity of a new generation of Trident nuclear weapons dumped on the Clyde.

“Financial independence and full access to Scotland’s abundant resources – so that we can invest in our public services and grow our economy – has always been an important idea. With the Labour, Tory and Lib Dem plans to slash Scotland’s budget, it is now absolutely essential.

“The time-bomb of the London parties’ cuts is ticking. On behalf of the people and public services of Scotland, the SNP will make this a major issue in Scottish politics in the European and General elections – and SNP success will stop the cuts in their tracks.”