Dundee SNP

Speaking ahead of tonight’s budget vote SNP MSP Joe FitzPatrick warned the Labour party that should they become the first major party to vote against the budget they would be isolated across Scotland with council tax payers, businesses and communities all facing potential costs from Labour’s decision.

By voting against this year’s budget the Labour party would be voting against;

· £230 million of capital expenditure brought forward by the UK Labour Government’s pre-budget report
· support for 5000 jobs – particularly in the construction sector
· funding being brought forward for the SECC and the Edinburgh bioquarter, the Fife Energy Park, and road improvements across Scotland
· £50 million of additional spending in the NHS including building new health and dental centres in Glasgow, Aberdeen, Ayr and Inverness
· £70 million of early investment in affordable housing

In addition Labour will be voting against

· Council tax freeze and increased funding for local authorities
· £40 million increase in funding for free personal care
· Investment in tackling hospital acquired infection
· Investment to reduce waiting times and to cut prescription charges further
· Abolition of business rates for 120,000 small businesses
· More bobbies on the beat

Joe FitzPatrick said:

“If Labour become the first major party to reject a Scottish budget the SNP will make sure that decision is heard loud and clear by communities and businesses across Scotland.

“Labour will be voting against jobs, against business and against investment in our public services.

“They will even be voting against the UK Government’s decision to bring forward capital spending to help the economy at this difficult time.

“They will be forcing their own local authorities to cut back on services and increase council tax by between £130 and £400 to make up the difference.

“Midlothian council has already agreed a council tax freeze – Labour will be voting to take funding for that freeze away from them – leading to cuts in services.

“Iain Gray is so desperate not to look like “mince” this year he is threatening to make a dogs breakfast of Scotland’s economy.

“No major party has ever voted against the Scottish budget and Labour must realise the serious social, economic and political consequences of their actions.”

CONTROL FREAKERY GONE MAD

The Scottish National Party called on the Labour Party to hold an inquiry into remarks from a Labour official reported in the Scotsman today, threatening journalists with being “shot” unless they moved – at the media event for the Prime Minister’s wife to which they had been invited by the Labour Party.

Dundee West SNP MSP Joe FitzPatrick said:

“If these remarks are accurate, it is Labour control freakery gone mad. On what possible basis do Labour Party apparatchiks not only discuss security issues – which they have no business interfering in – but actually threaten journalist with being ‘shot’ at an event to which they have been invited by Labour?

“We have excellent democratic standards in Scotland of campaigning in by-elections, which Labour must not be allowed to undermine in this extraordinary bullying manner.

“I am calling on the Labour Party to resolve this worrying matter by holding an inquiry in order to establish which party official made these reported remarks, on whose authority they were acting, and any disciplinary action that may be required.

“The SNP’s positive campaign, and our record of delivery in Fife, is getting a fantastic response on the doorstep. We cannot have the atmosphere of the by-election spoiled by such chilling and unacceptable remarks from the Labour Party.”

FIRST LABOUR, NOW THE TORIES, JOIN THE RACE TO CATCH UP WITH THE SNP

Commenting on the Shadow Chancellor’s announcement that a Conservative Government would seek to freeze the council tax, SNP Treasury Spokesman Stewart Hosie MP said:

“In a time of rising food and fuel bills, the SNP Government is doing everything in its power to make life easier for hardworking Scots: scrapping prescription charges, cutting or abolishing small business rates, and freezing the unfair council tax through a historic concordat with local government.

“The people of Scotland know that the SNP are on their side, and the London parties are struggling to catch up with us. We called for the planned road fuel tax increase to be wiped out, and Gordon Brown caved in under pressure in Glasgow East.

“Now, the Shadow Chancellor says he would freeze Council Tax. The SNP Government already has – just as we proposed a fuel duty regulator, which the Tories copied after refusing to vote for it in the House of Commons!

“Last week, the Prime Minister announced he would abolish prescription charges for certain patients, and have more flexible GP surgery opening times. The SNP Government has already introduced a policy to make prescription charges free for all, and over half of GP surgeries in Scotland already provide extended hours.

“The SNP Government is leading the way, and the London parties are falling over each other as they try to play catch up.”