Local MSP Brian Whittle has hit out at the Scottish Government as it unveiled its budget for the coming year.
Following recent announcements by the Scottish Government around public sector pay increases and a council tax freeze, the SNP were forced to cut other services to balance the books.
The tax and spending plans, announced by Finance Secretary Shona Robison include drastic cuts to the Housing budget and the Rural Affairs budget as well as funding packages for councils and Police Scotland that were well below what the organisations had asked for as a minimum to avoid cuts.
The Scottish Government also failed to increase tax band thresholds in line with inflation meaning many more middle earners can expect to pay higher taxes next year.
Responding to the budget statement at Holyrood, Brian, the Scottish Conservative Deputy Spokesperson for Business, Economic Growth and Tourism, criticised the announcements, accusing the Scottish Government of taking a “short-termist, sticking plaster” approach to the economy.
The MSP argued that many of the cuts proposed by the SNP, combined with a failure to match a business rates reduction for hospitality businesses which is available elsewhere in the UK, would threaten jobs and make it harder for the economy to grow. He also pointed out that the proposed cuts would almost inevitably put greater pressure on other public services such as health.
Brian Whittle MSP said:
“This budget should embarrass the Scottish Government. These damaging cuts and painful tax increases are only necessary because they have been more interested in the short-term political gain of big spending announcements than how they’ll actually be paid for.
Now Scotland’s public services are being asked to do more with less, businesses across Scotland, particularly in hospitality, are at a competitive disadvantage, and middle earners in Scotland are footing the bill.
The SNP and Greens might like to try and shift the blame for this situation but the buck stops with them. Government is about making tough choices and now, because they’ve refused to take them in the past, Scotland is paying a heavy price today.”
