UNION LEADER SPEAKS OUT AGAINST PRIME MINISTER GORDON BROWN’S CUTS.

UNION LEADER SPEAKS OUT AGAINST PRIME MINISTER GORDON BROWN’S CUTS.

PUBLIC SERVICES WILL BE “SACRIFIED”

Deputy General Secretary of the Scottish Trade Union Congress Dave Moxham has spoken out against Labour’s plans for £500 million of cuts to the Scottish budget.

Writing in the Scottish Left Review Mr Moxham said;
“In his pre-budget report, the Chancellor announced “efficiency savings” of an additional £5 billion for 2011 - which will impact to the tune of £500 million in Scotland. This is an entirely unwelcome signal, indicating that sustainable public service provision may be sacrificed on the altar of short term fiscal stimuli.”

Mr Moxham’s comments follow those made yesterday by former London Mayor Ken Livingstone on BBC Politics Show.
“The last thing you need to do is to cut the devolved governments, whether it’s the London Assembly, the Mayor or Scotland or Wales.”

SNP MSP Michael Matheson welcomed Mr Moxham’s comments and called for the support of Scotland’s trade unions in opposing Labour’s cuts,

“The STUC know, as do local authorities and public bodies across the country, that if these cuts go ahead real damage could be done to our public services at the worst possible time.

“£500 million of cuts is equal to closing 7 of Scotland’s hospitals. That is a price too far to pay for Gordon Brown’s mismanagement of our economy.

“Cutting public spending in the face of recession is the wrong action to take. This is the time for investment and essential spending, not Labour cut backs and closures.

“Scotland’s trade unions and London’s former Mayor have said what Labour’s Scottish leader dare not. To cut Scotland’s budget in the middle of Gordon Brown’s recession is the wrong thing to do and will have a deeply damaging impact on Scotland’s ability to respond properly to this economic downturn.”