SALMOND CRITICISES DARLING FOR CUTS 'DEEPER' THAN THATCHER'S

SALMOND CRITICISES DARLING FOR CUTS 'DEEPER' THAN THATCHER'S

SNP LEADER AND SCOTTISH FIRST MINISTER MAKES BUDGET BROADCAST

ONLY 'MORE NATS' WILL MEAN 'LESS CUTS'

SNP leader and Scotland's First Minister, Alex Salmond MP MSP, will
tonight (Friday) use his budget response to highlight how Labour's
Chancellor wants "deeper and tougher" cuts than Margaret Thatcher. He will
argue that only by electing More Nats can Scotland now have Less Cuts from
the London parties.

A full transcript of his broadcast is attached. Highlights will be his
criticism of the Chancellor where he will say:

"It always takes a few days for the reality of a Budget to emerge. We get
the chance to see the small print.

"And so today, what we know, is that Labour and Tory plans for Scotland's
budget this year are effectively one and the same.

"They both agree on the same budget cut for Scotland. A cut of almost £400
million.

"Labour cuts and Tory cuts - they are now the same.

"Cuts that the Chancellor yesterday admitted would be "tougher and deeper"
than those implemented by Margaret Thatcher.

"Cuts in Scotland's budget almost three times the size as the cuts for the
UK.

"And they both reject much needed stimulus for our economy."

He will then go on to argue the only way for Scotland to avert these
damaging cuts is to vote SNP in the coming election. He will say:

"More votes means more Nats. And more Nats means less cuts.

"This week's budget was not the right deal for Scotland's families or
communities, not the right deal for Scotland's jobs and Scotland's future.

"But Scotland can win a better deal from London with local and national
champions - with the SNP."