LABOUR SCOTTISH SECRETARY MORE INTERESTED IN PARTY POLITICS THAN OPPOSING TORY CUTS Speaking following Scottish Questions today (Wednesday) SNP Treasury spokesperson Stewart Hosie MP said that Tory plans to slash Scottish public spending had been “exposed for all to see”. Mr Hosie said that the three almost identical questions – on the Barnett formula and Scottish spending – were a massive embarrassment to Scottish Tory MSPs who are backing the Scottish Government’s budget.
Despite these questions Labour Scottish Secretary Jim Murphy exposed his party's right wing alliance with the Tories by indulging in a bout of negative scaremongering against the SNP - an action for which he was pulled up by the speaker for using his office for party political purposes.
Commenting Mr Hosie said:
”The Conservatives plans to slash Scottish spending have been exposed for all to see. They are little different from Labour's plans to cut £1 billion from Scotland's budget.
”Behind David Cameron’s smiles and spin, just like Labour, the Tories are set on cutting Scotland’s budget.
“Apart from being extremely irresponsible at a time of recession, these bitter attacks are also acutely embarrassing for Scottish Tory MSPs who are backing the Scottish Government’s budget.”
During Scottish Questions Mr Hosie also called on Jim Murphy to “stand up to the Treasury” and ensure that the £1bn planned cut to Scotland’s Budget was reversed. Mr Hosie highlighted comments by the Labour First Minister of Wales who conceded that the Chancellor's spending plans will mean almost £300 million of cuts in public services for Wales.
Mr Hosie said:
"Rhodri Morgan realises that this is the wrong time to cut public expenditure, and Jim Murphy should recognise that too. A Secretary of State for Scotland worthy of the title would be fighting the £1bn of cuts to the Scottish budget, not defending them.
"Instead Mr Murphy showed his partisan streak by failing to defend Scotland against cuts and was pulled up by the Speaker for using his office for party political purposes. He just exposed how London Labour plan a huge £1 billion cut in Scottish spending.
"It is totally unacceptable for the Treasury to chop £1 billion from Scottish spending – especially at a time when Scotland is in budget surplus, contributing far more to the UK exchequer than we get back in return.
"There is now no argument against fiscal autonomy for Scotland - the alternative is seeing our public spending being eroded year on year, and our public services being undermined."
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