Commenting on the interview in the Herald today (Tuesday) by the LibDem Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Danny Alexander, where he described Westminster cuts as “common sense”, “unavoidable”, “progressive” and “civilised”, SNP MSP Joe FitzPatrick – a member of the Scottish Parliament’s Finance Committee – said it just underlined how far the LibDems had gone in betraying their voters.
Mr FitzPatrick pointed out that before the May election this year LibDem leader Nick Clegg and Vince Cable had been strongly against such an early cuts programme and Nick Clegg described them as “economic masochism” and added that if “If anyone had to rely on our support, and we were involved in government, of course we would say no.”
Commenting Mr FitzPatrick said: “In opposition the LibDems were vocal in opposing the type of cuts Danny Alexander is now driving through. Cuts that are damaging and which Scotland never voted for.
“Danny Alexander’s comments just show how far the LibDems have gone in betraying their voters. If it is not tuition fees, the VAT rise the it is supporting the Tory cuts which they call masochistic.
“His astonishing comments just show how the LibDems now enthusiastically support the Tories; that they are the same as the Tories and they are doing the Tories’ dirty work.”
Tag Archive for budget cuts
Lib Dems Have ‘Betrayed’ Voters – Dundee MSP
SPENDING CUTS WILL ONLY ADD TO ANXIETY OF HOUSEHOLDS AND HIGH STREETS
DARLING MUST RULE OUT CUTS AND LOOK TO US FOR STIMULUS MODEL
SNP Treasury spokesperson, Stewart Hosie MP, has expressed concern over Treasury trails of the Budget saying that that Chancellor is set to cut public spending by £15bn in the teeth of recession. The SNP have urged the UK Government to deliver a fiscal stimulus similar to the approach taken by the US Government.
There is growing opposition to the cuts with unions and business organisations both warning of their potential harm. Business Secretary Lord Mandelson acknowledged yesterday (Sunday) that there was also mounting public concern.
Mr Hosie said:
“Slashing public spending in the teeth of recession will only add to the anxiety of households and high streets.
“First, the Chancellor told us this would be a short sharp recession, while every independent authority suggests it is going to be long and deep. Now, he tells us efficiency savings are the way to go despite serious warnings from union leaders, business organisations and the governments of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
“Just weeks ago Gordon Brown was gallivanting around the globe calling for a massive fiscal stimulus, but now Alistair Darling is doing the opposite.
“The £15bn cut exceeds the £12.5bn value of the UK Government’s VAT cut and risks negating any good this cut may have done.
“In the teeth of a recession, this dangerous move will seriously set back economic recovery.
“The Chancellor must look to America where President Obama has introduced an economic stimulus package worth $787bn and more than half of that is being spent at State level.
“The state of Maryland, for example – which has a similar population to Scotland – will receive some £2.6bn extra funding, supporting 66,000 jobs over the next two years. Yet in the UK, Alistair Darling’s Budget is proposing to cut Scottish public spending from 2010 by £500m a year, which would destroy 8,700 jobs in Scotland.
“There is clear blue water the width of the Atlantic between President Obama’s stimulus package, which will support some 3.5 million jobs nationwide, and the budget-cutting response of Labour.”
BUDGET MUST SECURE PUBLIC INVESTMENT
SCOTLAND HAS WHAT IT TAKES FOR A STRONG RECOVERY
Cuts to Scotland’s public spending in this week’s UK budget would damage Scotland’s recovery.
SNP Treasury Spokesman and MP for Dundee East Stewart Hosie today called on the UK Government to heed the warnings from the STUC not to cut public investment in this weeks budget.
STUC General Secretary Graeme Smith today warned the Labour Government that “cuts in funding for vital public services would be a disaster which Scotland’s communities will feel for many years to come.”
Welcoming the STUC’s intervention Mr Hosie said:
“Scotland has what it takes to recover strongly from this recession with public investment in jobs, training and enterprise, capital projects
across the country and support for frontline services.
“The SNP Government’s announcement off £95 million of investment in
skills, training and enterprise is exactly the kind of public support that
will see Scotland come through this recession in a stronger position.
“I fully agree with the STUC that cutting Scotland’s public spending at
this time could be deeply damaging to Scotland’s communities.
“It is simply nonsensical when what is needed in the economy is continued public investment that the UK Government would seek to limit Scotland’s potential with damaging cuts.
“As the First Ministers of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have made clear – now is the time for investment in jobs and prosperity not public spending cuts that could have a harmful impact on our frontline services.
“Scotland’s communities will not easily forgive any politician or any party that stands in the way of Scotland’s recovery.”
HAPLESS HARMAN REPEATS BILLION POUND BLUNDER
DEPUTE LABOUR LEADER IN DENIAL OVER DAMAGING CUTS
Leader of the House of Commons, Harriet Harman has repeated her denial that the UK Government is set to cut spending in Scotland, Wales and Northern – less than 24 hours after she first made the glaring gaffe.
Standing in for Gordon Brown at PMQs yesterday, Ms Harman flatly denied that spending cuts were planned.
Today (Thursday) at Business Questions, questioned by SNP Treasury spokesperson Stewart Hosie MP, Ms Harman repeated her claim – putting her completely at odds with the comments from the Treasury that £5 billion in cuts are planned.
Speaking after the exchange, Mr Hosie said:
“Labour’s planned spending cuts are on record and indisputable, and for Harriet Harman to repeat her denial is a glaring gaffe.
“Harriet Harman is not kidding anyone with her desperate denials – the facts speak for themselves.
“Despite their political diversity, the governments of Scotland, Northern Ireland and even Labour Ministers in Wales can all see the danger of the Treasury’s planned cuts in the teeth of recession, why on earth can’t Harriet Harman recognise this.
“It would be madness, in the deepest days of the Downing Street depression, at a time when we need to support the economy, to slash spending.
“Labour has no place to hide on this issue and must now get their heads out the sand and oppose these cuts.”
LIVINGSTONE ADDS VOICE TO CAMPAIGN AGAINST LABOUR CUTS
FORMER MAYOR SPEAKS UP WHILE SCOTTISH LABOUR STAY SILENT
Labour’s former Mayor of London Ken Livingstone has today urged Alasdair Darling and Gordon Brown not to cut the budgets of devolved administrations.
The Scottish Government, alongside the Welsh and Northern Irish Assemblies has called on the UK Government not to introduce what would amount to £500million of cuts to Scotland’s budget.
Asked on BBC’s Politics Show how he would approach the upcoming budget Mr Livingstone said:
“The last thing you need to do is cut the devolved government’s budget – whether it’s London or Scotland”
SNP MSP and Finance Committee member Joe FitzPatrick MSP welcomed Mr Livingstone’s comments:
“It seems Ken Livingstone can stick up for Scottish investment, where Labour’s Scottish leaders will not.
“Ken Livingstone understands what the UK Government does not – that the last thing you do in a recession is cut vital public spending by the devolved governments.
“At a time when public sector investment is more important than ever the Chancellor’s plan to slash £500 million from Scottish spending this year and next will be deeply damaging.
“Ken Livingstone has said the words that Iain Gray dare not speak. London Labour should listen to Livingstone and to the joint voices of the Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish Finance Ministers and end this ridiculous plan to slash Scotland’s spending in the face of Gordon Brown’s recession.”
SNP URGE BROWN TO SEIZE THE MOMENT
PM’S CRINGE WORTHY CLAIMS OVER STIMULUS EXPOSED
As Gordon Brown urges the US to “seize the moment” and “make the future work for us” in his address to a joint meeting of the US Congress, SNP Treasury spokesperson, Stewart Hosie MP, has urged the prime minister to “seize the moment and rule out £1 billion of future cuts in Scottish public spending”.
Mr Hosie said:
“Gordon Brown’s cringe-worthy claims over the stimulus package being introduced by President Obama, and now his condescending advice to Congress are simply extraordinary.
“It is Gordon Grown who should ‘seize the moment’ and rule out £1 billion of future cuts in Scottish public spending.
“It is embarrassing and absurd for Gordon Brown to try to take credit for the stimulus package being introduced by President Obama when the UK Government are planning to respond to the recession by slashing spending in Scotland.
“There is clear blue water the width of the Atlantic between President Obama’s $787 billion stimulus package, which will support some 3.5 million jobs nationwide, and the response of Gordon Brown.
”A key characteristic of the Obama plan is that the bulk of the additional resources is going to the individual States.
“The state of Maryland, for example – which has a similar population to Scotland – will receive some £2.6 billion extra funding, supporting 66,000 jobs over the next two years.
“Contrast this with the UK where, Gordon Brown is proposing to cut Scottish public spending from 2010 by £500 million a year, in the teeth of a recession. This would destroy 8,700 jobs in Scotland.”
NORTHERN IRELAND JOINS CHORUS AGAINST CUTS
SCOTTISH LABOUR MUST GET THEIR HEADS OUT THE SAND
SNP Treasury spokesperson Stewart Hosie has welcomed the intervention of Northern Ireland’s Finance Minister on the issue of the UK Government’s planned spending cuts for the devolved administrations. Northern Ireland Finance Minister Nigel Dodd’s echoed the concerns of the Scottish and Welsh administrations over UK Government plans to cut public spending in 2010/11 and 2011/12.
Finance Minister Nigel Dodds said: “it is completely wrong and unjust that that level of funding should be reduced at this time… the situation is serious, and we are actively resisting it, along with the devolved Administrations of Scotland and Wales.”
Last week Labour’s Finance Minister in the Welsh Assembly Government warned that Welsh public services face an ‘unprecedented’ £500m budget cut in 2010 as a result of Westminster cuts. To date the Labour party in Scotland have either been defending the cuts or refusing to admit they will happen.
SNP Treasury spokesperson, Stewart Hosie MP, said:
”Nigel Dodd’s intervention completes the chorus of opposition to the Prime Minister’s irresponsible spending cuts in the face of recession.
”Despite their political diversity, the governments of Scotland, Wales and now Northern Ireland can all see the danger and foolishness of the Treasury’s planned cuts, why on earth won’t the prime minister recognise this.
“It would be madness, in the deepest days of the Downing Street depression, at a time when we need to support the economy, to slash spending.
“The Labour party in Scotland has no place to hide now on this issue and must now get their heads out the sand and oppose these cuts.”
MUNDELL IN A MUDDLE OVER SCOTISH SPENDING CUTS
RIGHT-WING ALLIANCE TARGET SCOTLAND’S SPENDING
SNP Treasury spokesperson Stewart Hosie MP has seized on an admission by Conservative Scotland spokesperson, David Mundell MP, that the Conservatives support Labour plans to slash Scottish public spending.
Mr Mundell’s admission comes as a massive embarrassment to Scottish Tory MSPs who are backing the Scottish Government’s budget.
Commenting Mr Hosie said:
“David Mundell has made a massive political blunder with this admission of the Conservatives’ cash cutting agenda for Scotland.
“It is clear that the Conservatives agenda is little different from Labour’s plans to cut £1 billion from Scotland’s budget.
“Behind David Cameron’s smiles and spin, just like Labour, the Tories are set on cutting Scotland’s budget. David Mundell should be fighting the £1bn planned cuts to the Scottish budget, not backing them.
“Apart from being extremely irresponsible and counter-productive at a time of recession, David Mundell’s blundering intervention is also acutely embarrassing for Scottish Tory MSPs who are backing the Scottish Government’s budget.
“There is now no argument against fiscal autonomy for Scotland – the alternative is seeing our public spending being slashed year on year, and our public services being undermined.”
WELSH LABOUR CONFIRM LONDON LABOUR CUTS
TIME IAIN GRAY ADMITTED LABOURS SCOTTISH CUTS
Labour’s Finance Minister in the Welsh Assembly Government will warn that Welsh public services face an ‘unprecedented’ £500m budget cut in 2010 as a result of Westminster cuts, in a BBC interview to be broadcast tonight (Thursday).
Highlighting the warning, SNP Treasury spokesperson, Stewart Hosie MP, urged Labour’s leader in the Scottish Parliament Iain Gray MSP to finally acknowledge that Scotland faced a £1billion cut as a result of the Chancellors spending plans.
The interview with the Welsh Government Finance Minister, Andrew Davies AM, echoes an admission by the Labour First Minister of Wales, Rhodri Morgan, who said that the UK Government could not yet tell him where in Whitehall the axe would fall. He said: “It’s going to be tough. There’s no doubt about that…It’s not looking terribly promising on that point.”
Mr Hosie said:
“Labour Ministers in the Welsh government are being honest and frank about the impact cuts to their budget. Now its time Iain Gray admitted what his party’s plans mean for Scotland.
“Why won’t Iain Gray admit that the cut is likely to be £500m a year in Scotland from 2010-2012, as calculated by David Bell?
“Unlike his Labour colleagues in Wales, Iain Gray been distinctly quiet on what services would face the axe to meet Gordon Brown and Alistair Darling’s cuts.
“The Scottish Government put forward responsible plans to win parliamentary approval to spend Scotland’s budget allocation over three years.
“For the UK Government to then come in and plan to chop £1 billion off is totally unacceptable – especially at a time when Scotland is in budget surplus, contributing far more to the UK exchequer than we get back in return.
“Only SNP success in the European and General elections can stop Labour’s billion pound cuts in their tracks.”
SNP GUARANTEE 4 YEAR COUNCIL TAX FREEZE
LONDON LABOUR CUTS BLOCK FAIR TAXATION
SNP MSP Joe FitzPatrick today welcomed the extension of the council tax freeze to a full four years.
John Swinney today confirmed that the SNP Government will support a council tax freeze in 2010/11 and 2011/12.
No council tax bill will need to increase under this SNP Government.
Joe FitzPatrick also condemned Labour’s £1 billion of cuts to Scotland’s budget, cuts that will stop Scottish tax payers receiving the biggest tax cut in a generation and the unholy alliance of Labour and the Tories who have blocked SNP efforts to scrap the council tax.
Mr FitzPatrick said:
“Today’s confirmation that council tax will not increase by one penny in the next three years is excellent news for taxpayers across Scotland.
“In 2011/12, the SNP Government will provide the resources to ensure that Scotland’s council tax payers will be paying no more than they did in 2007.
“With opposition parties blocking moves to scrap the Council Tax – after it doubled under the Tories and Labour – the SNP freeze is helping hard pressed families during tough times. Continuing the freeze for four full years will bring real benefit to household budgets.
“An unholy alliance of Labour and the Tories has conspired to keep the council tax.
“If parliament will not reflect the desire of the people of Scotland to scrap the Council Tax, we will take the case for fair local tax to the people in 2011 – and the ‘council tax cabal’ will pay the price at the ballot box.”
