PUBLIC SPEAK OUT AGAINST WESTMINSTER CUTS

PUBLIC SPEAK OUT AGAINST WESTMINSTER CUTS

MORE LOCAL CHAMPIONS MEANS FEWER LONDON CUTS

SNP ONLY PARTY OF INVESTMENT NOT CUTS

The SNP’s call for investment in public spending rather than the sharp
cuts offered by Labour, Tory and Lib Dems has the overwhelming backing of
Scotland’s voters according to new figures from Yougov.

The latest YouGov poll, for the Scotsman, shows that 46% of people think
the Government should not cut spending too soon - rejecting Labour's £800
million of cuts to Scotland and the further cuts planned by all three
London parties – because it risks putting Scotland back into recession.
Only 38% believe spending should be cut now.

Alistair Darling cut £800 million from Scotland’s public services in the
UK budget in November and refused to invest £300 million of capital in
delivering housing and investment as we recover from Labour’s recession –
rejecting Scottish Government efforts to rebuild the economy.

First Minister Alex Salmond and Finance Secretary John Swinney have
written to the London parties making the case for continued investment not
cuts.

SNP Treasury Spokesman and Westminster Campaign Co-ordinator Stewart Hosie
MP said:

“It is only by rejecting the traditional Westminster politics and electing
SNP MPs as local champions that Scotland’s voters can secure investment
not cuts in Scotland’s public services.

“The only difference in Scotland between Labour cuts and Tory cuts is the
£800 million of cuts to this year’s budget already slashed from Scottish
spending by the Labour.

“The phoney war between Labour and the Tories will fool no one. Neither
party is willing to commit to keeping Scotland’s budget intact this year
and both parties would rather build new nuclear weapons than protect
public services.

“There can be no denying that Labour’s recession has to be paid for but
any cuts to funding now will seriously hinder Scotland’s efforts to
recover strongly from recession.

“It is only the pressure that SNP MPs can bring to bear in the new
Parliament that will protect Scotland’s public services from the harsh
spending cuts Alistair Darling and George Osborne are queuing up to make.”