CAMERON GIVES GAME AWAY ON CUTS

CAMERON GIVES GAME AWAY ON CUTS

TORIES ADMIT THEY PLAN SAVAGE BUDGET-SLASHING FOR DEVOLVED NATIONS

Speaking after David Cameron admitted that any incoming Tory Government
would look to slash spending on front-line services across the nations and
regions of the UK, SNP Treasury spokesman Stewart Hosie said the comments
underlined the threat to Scotland's budget posed by a Conservative
administration.

Mr Cameron used a BBC interview with Jeremy Paxman to say that he would
"pick out" Northern Ireland as one of the first places a Tory
administration would axe spending on key public services.

"The remarks come after would-be Tory Chancellor George Osborne said he
planned a "needs assessment" based funding model for Scotland, which would
be designed to cut the Scottish budget while taking no account of revenues
raised in the country.

Mr Hosie said: "The cat is now well and truly out of the bag. The Tories
are now giving up any pretence they might once have had when it comes to
their savage spending cuts agenda and the fact that Scotland, Wales and
Northern Ireland are being singled out to bear the brunt of those cuts.

"David Cameron's comments simply prove how firmly the Conservatives have
Scotland and the other devolved nations in their sights, and their
threatened 'Cameron Cut' for Scotland must be resisted at every turn.

"We now know from official figures that Scotland's budget faces a £35
billion black hole over the next 12 to 15 years, as a result of the cuts
planned by the London parties. Only a balanced parliament can protect
Scotland and the other devolved nations from that punishing cuts agenda
proposed by Labour, the Tories and the Lib Dems. And if people in Scotland
want a balanced parliament they should vote for SNP local and national
champions."