LIB DEMS' 'CLEGG CUT' PROVES THEY ARE PART OF WESTMINSTER MACHINE

LIB DEMS' 'CLEGG CUT' PROVES THEY ARE PART OF WESTMINSTER MACHINE

MANIFESTO AUTHOR GIVES THE GAME AWAY ON SPENDING

Commenting on the launch of the Liberal Democrats' London launch of their
election manifesto this morning, before which its author Danny Alexander
called for a so-called "needs-based" assessment of funding for Scotland -
similar to the Tories' plans, which take no account of Scotland's revenues
- SNP election campaign coordinator Stewart Hosie said:

"The Lib Dems try to pretend they are different from Labour and the
Tories, but their policy statements give the game away. The reality is
they are exactly the same as the other London parties when it comes to
slashing Scotland's budget in a totally unfair and unjustified smash and
grab raid.

"Danny Alexander wrote their manifesto, and he has now admitted that they
are targeting Scotland's cash share in exactly the same way as the Tories
and Labour.

"Labour threaten 'deeper and tougher' cuts than Thacher while the Tories
promise a special 'Cameron Cut', to which we can now add the 'Clegg Cut'
under the Lib Dems.

"And just as the Liberals are part of the cosy Westminster consensus on
cuts, they are part of the tired, discredited Westminster machine which is
failing communities across Scotland.

"Only SNP candidates promising to be local and national champions for
their communities and for Scotland offer any real alternative at this
election."

ENDS

Note: Danny Alexander on BBC's Good Morning Scotland:

"We've always said that we think there should be needs-based assessment
between the nations and regions of the UK. We've got to look at that
again."