SALMOND CHALLENGE TO CAMERON OVER BILLION POUND RAID ON SCOTLAND'S BUDGET

SALMOND CHALLENGE TO CAMERON OVER BILLION POUND RAID ON SCOTLAND'S BUDGET TORIES MUST HALT PLANS FOR SMASH AND GRAB SNP leader and Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond today (Fri) challenged Tory leader David Cameron to halt Conservative plans for a smash and grab raid on Scotland's cash. Mr Cameron this morning refused to rule out imposing cuts on Scotland's budget - and also declined to rule out trying to force through such cuts without the consent of Scotland's Parliament. Mr Salmond said: "David Cameron and his would-be Chancellor, George Osborne, are threatening Scotland with a billion pound bombshell. "That is what the Conservatives have been secretly plotting with their so-called 'needs assessment' - over and above the deep cuts both they and Labour already plan for Scotland. "Such a move would take no account of the huge revenues being raised in Scotland, including the £40 billion-plus in North Sea oil revenues flooding into the Treasury over the next few years. "That is what makes it deeply ironic that David Cameron is threatening to cut Scotland's cash while arriving in Aberdeen, the hub of Scotland's oil industry, which is keeping UK coffers afloat. "It is doubly ironic when the most recent figures show that Scotland has been in surplus to the tune of £2.3 billion in the three years to 2007-08, while the UK ran up a deficit of £24 billion over the same period." Mr Salmond added: "Trying to force through such cuts without Holyrood's consent would be outrageous. David Cameron's pledge to have a respect agenda with this country has been exposed as a complete and utter sham - and the Tories' arrogance will come back to haunt them. "When are we going to get a definitive reply from the Tories on this issue? I wrote to George Osborne a week ago, but so far there has been nothing but a deathly silence from the Shadow Chancellor, who appears to have been in hiding all week. "With this threat to punish Scotland with savage and deeply unfair cuts to vital public services, the Conservatives are reverting to type, while Labour are threatening 'deeper and tougher' cuts than even Margaret Thatcher. "Scots voters know the only way to protect themselves from both London parties is by electing SNP local and national champions."