G20 EXPOSES PM GORDON BROWN'S ECONOMIC HYPOCRISY.

G20 EXPOSES PM GORDON BROWN'S ECONOMIC HYPOCRISY.

The SNP has today accused Gordon Brown and his Labour Government of treating the electorate with contempt as the Prime Minister presides over cuts to Scotland’s budget whilst lecturing other countries on the importance of continuing fiscal stimulus. The UK Government is not only cutting £1 billion from Scotland’s budget in the next two years, its major spending on fiscal stimulus - the VAT cut comes to an end on 31st December this year and in an interview with The Times today Chancellor Alistair Darling admits that he is to tighten public spending. Brown’s hypocritical call for continued stimulus also follows an admission from Peter Mandleson earlier this summer that the UK Government is preparing for ten years of cuts. SNP Treasury Spokesman Stewart Hosie MP said; “Gordon Brown is treating the voters with contempt. “This display of arrogance and hypocrisy in front of global leaders is shameful. “Lecturing other countries on the need to continue with a fiscal stimulus whilst at the same time ending the UK Government’s VAT cut and slashing Scotland’s budget exposes the duplicity of Mr Brown. “On the same day the Prime Minister is telling the world to keep spending his Chancellor is admitting he will be cutting spending, and we know Scotland is already facing budget cuts from the UK Government of £1 billion over the next two years. “Add in Lord Mandleson’s admission that we are facing ten years of austerity and Gordon Brown’s duplicity is crystal clear. “With the full economic levers of a normal independent nation Scotland would be able to manage our budget for our own economic needs alongside other nations. Investing in Scotland’s recovery rather than slashing spending in the middle of the recession. “Gordon Brown and his Labour Government are saying one thing to the G20 and doing another at home. The G20’s commitment to recovery is welcome but the UK Government are not living up to their word."

Notes and more info regarding this official SNP press release.

1. The VAT cut introduced in an attempt at fiscal stimulus will end on 31st December 2009

2. Speaking to a meeting of G20 Finance Ministers today Gordon Brown said: It is clear in my view that too early a withdrawal of vital support could undermine the tentative signs of recovery we are now seeing and lead to a further downward lurch in business and consumer confidence,"

3. In an interview in The Times today Chancellor Alistair Darling said: “we will have to decide given what’s happened to the economy how much we can afford to spend on services and how much we should b devoting to making sure we recover our fiscal position. He continued: When you look at the burden of where the deficit reduction comes from, it is tax, yes, but it is also tighter public spending.”

4. Lord Mandleson: "Of course, there will be pressures on spending after 2011 and constraints for the next decade. http://www.theherald.co.uk/politics/news/display.var.2519998.0.mandelson_warns_of_austerity_for_next_decade.php