By David Scott
15 April 2010
Spending cuts planned by Labour and the Conservatives will damage ‘cherished’ public services in Scotland, according to the Scottish National Party.
Launching the party’s general election campaign on April 12, First Minister Alex Salmond warned that flagship policies such as free personal care for elderly people, free higher education and the recruitment of 1,000 extra police officers were under threat from the ‘London parties’.
He claimed Labour’s Budget forecasts suggested £30bn of cuts for Scotland over the next 15 years and that the Conservatives were planning a ‘Cameron cut’ aimed directly at Scottish spending.
Although devolved Scotland has full control over policies in areas such as health, education and police services, the level of funding is influenced by finance allocated by Westminster through the block grant.
Salmond said: ‘Labour and the Tories now threaten deeply cherished policies such as free personal care, free education and community policing.’
On the day the Labour Party launched its UK manifesto, Labour in Scotland produced a Scottish version covering policies reserved to Westminster and those devolved to Scotland.
Devolved commitments – which will be more relevant to next year’s Scottish Parliament elections – included pledges on cancer treatment and alcohol abuse, ‘targeted’ support for pupils and funding to maintain police numbers.
Labour rejected the SNP’s claims on the impact of funding cuts, arguing that it was impossible to look 15 years ahead.
The Scottish Tories accused the SNP of ‘scaremongering’. Campaign manager David McLetchie said a UK Conservative government would increase NHS funding with the result that the health portion of the money coming to Scotland would grow.
The Scottish Liberal Democrats said they offered Scotland’s young people ‘fairness and change’.
Leader Tavish Scott, said: ‘We will invest in skills and training, create college places and paid work experience and give a fair tax cut that will help young people just starting out.’
15 April 2010
Spending cuts planned by Labour and the Conservatives will damage ‘cherished’ public services in Scotland, according to the Scottish National Party.
Launching the party’s general election campaign on April 12, First Minister Alex Salmond warned that flagship policies such as free personal care for elderly people, free higher education and the recruitment of 1,000 extra police officers were under threat from the ‘London parties’.
He claimed Labour’s Budget forecasts suggested £30bn of cuts for Scotland over the next 15 years and that the Conservatives were planning a ‘Cameron cut’ aimed directly at Scottish spending.
Although devolved Scotland has full control over policies in areas such as health, education and police services, the level of funding is influenced by finance allocated by Westminster through the block grant.
Salmond said: ‘Labour and the Tories now threaten deeply cherished policies such as free personal care, free education and community policing.’
On the day the Labour Party launched its UK manifesto, Labour in Scotland produced a Scottish version covering policies reserved to Westminster and those devolved to Scotland.
Devolved commitments – which will be more relevant to next year’s Scottish Parliament elections – included pledges on cancer treatment and alcohol abuse, ‘targeted’ support for pupils and funding to maintain police numbers.
Labour rejected the SNP’s claims on the impact of funding cuts, arguing that it was impossible to look 15 years ahead.
The Scottish Tories accused the SNP of ‘scaremongering’. Campaign manager David McLetchie said a UK Conservative government would increase NHS funding with the result that the health portion of the money coming to Scotland would grow.
The Scottish Liberal Democrats said they offered Scotland’s young people ‘fairness and change’.
Leader Tavish Scott, said: ‘We will invest in skills and training, create college places and paid work experience and give a fair tax cut that will help young people just starting out.’
