GRAY WANTS TO PLAY FAST AND LOOSE WITH COUNTRY'S CASH

GRAY WANTS TO PLAY FAST AND LOOSE WITH COUNTRY'S CASH

LABOUR MUST TELL PUBLIC WHAT THEY WOULD CUT TO FUND GARL

Responding to the comments by Iain Gray that the Scottish Government must fund the over-budget Glasgow Airport Rail Link in order for the Labour group to support next year's budget, the SNP's Joe FitzPatrick has challenged Iain Gray to find the cash for the project.

Following funding cuts from Westminster, the Finance Minister John Swinney was forced to find almost £500 million of savings.

Member of Scottish Parliament's Finance Committee, Joe FitzPatrick MSP said:

"Iain Gray seems totally incapable of the simplest of sums. He wants the Scottish Government to fund every project under the sun, despite the fact his Government at Westminster is imposing unprecedented cuts. Iain Gray needs to learn than you can't be irresponsible with the nation’s finances - his pal Gordon Brown did exactly that and lead us into the worst recession in 70 years. The SNP will not do that, we will always do what is best for the country.

"Steven Purcell has called for the scrapping of the Borders Rail Link and Free School Meals - I know this SNP Government will not 'take food from bairns mouths' in order to fund an unaffordable project. Mr Purcell seems to have an agenda against Scotland's children having already sanctioned a mass cull of Glasgow's Primary Schools.

"Iain Gray must now come out and say whether he also wants to punish school children, scrap the Borders rail project, or if he can find something else to cut, such as the new Southern General hospital or M74. He can't make threats and demands without putting forward his own plan. He is looking more and more ridiculous every day he makes these economically illiterate and financially irresponsible remarks. "