Dundee West Labour
22 January 2020
Today in the Scottish Parliament, Scottish Labour will challenge the SNP government over its cuts to local government.
Scottish Labour will raise the issue of the SNP government cutting council budgets by seven per cent in real terms between 2013/2014 and 2019/2020, compared with a two per cent cut in Scottish Government funding over the same period.
Scottish Labour will argue that these cuts are jeopardising vital and essential services in local communities and making it incredibly difficult for councils to tackle issues such as the drug death epidemic and the climate emergency.
Commenting, Scottish Labour Local Government Spokesperson Sarah Boyack MSP said:
“ The SNP may talk about putting power in the hands of the people of Scotland, but Scotland is still one of the most centralised countries In Europe.
“The SNP has passed on cuts to Local Government at four times the rate of cuts to the Scottish Government’s budget.
“ Local Government is at breaking point. There is only one way to ensure we have councils fit to provide local services and tackle the issues of the day: the SNP must stop the cuts.”
Scottish Labour Finance, Jobs and Fair Work Spokesperson Rhoda Grant MSP said:
“As we approach the publication of the Scottish Budget the message from Scottish Labour to the Government is clear: stop the cuts to Local Government.
“Scotland’s councils and the communities that they serve have suffered for years at the hands of SNP austerity. It is high time the SNP Government provided councils with the resources that they need and bring an end to the age of austerity for Local Government.”
Today in the Scottish Parliament, Scottish Labour will challenge the SNP government over its cuts to local government.
Scottish Labour will raise the issue of the SNP government cutting council budgets by seven per cent in real terms between 2013/2014 and 2019/2020, compared with a two per cent cut in Scottish Government funding over the same period.
Scottish Labour will argue that these cuts are jeopardising vital and essential services in local communities and making it incredibly difficult for councils to tackle issues such as the drug death epidemic and the climate emergency.
Commenting, Scottish Labour Local Government Spokesperson Sarah Boyack MSP said:
“ The SNP may talk about putting power in the hands of the people of Scotland, but Scotland is still one of the most centralised countries In Europe.
“The SNP has passed on cuts to Local Government at four times the rate of cuts to the Scottish Government’s budget.
“ Local Government is at breaking point. There is only one way to ensure we have councils fit to provide local services and tackle the issues of the day: the SNP must stop the cuts.”
Scottish Labour Finance, Jobs and Fair Work Spokesperson Rhoda Grant MSP said:
“As we approach the publication of the Scottish Budget the message from Scottish Labour to the Government is clear: stop the cuts to Local Government.
“Scotland’s councils and the communities that they serve have suffered for years at the hands of SNP austerity. It is high time the SNP Government provided councils with the resources that they need and bring an end to the age of austerity for Local Government.”