Keith Brown MSP, Member of the Scottish Parliament for the Clackmannanshire & Dunblane constituency, has highlighted Labour’s “betrayal of Scotland’s priorities” as their continuation of Tory austerity puts the Scottish Government in an “impossible position”.  

Stressing the SNP’s continued commitment to delivering for Scotland and protecting households from the deepest of Westminster’s cuts, Keith said:

“In a statement to the Scottish Parliament today, SNP Finance Secretary Shona Robison emphasised what she described as the ‘impossible situation’ that the Scottish Government has been put in, forced to act within a budget largely set at Westminster that now faces still further cuts from the UK Labour government.

“Under the SNP, Scotland has some of the best performing public services in the UK, 100,000 children are being lifted out of poverty and we have made university tuition and prescriptions free.

“It has to be made clear, however, that our determination to continue to improve the lives of all living in Scotland will be severely challenged by Labour’s plans for up to £22 billion worth of public spending cuts.

“The SNP is determined to rise to that challenge but, by making the choice to pursue a policy agenda steeped in austerity, Westminster is once again harming families, public services and Scotland as a whole.  Labour have simply picked up the Tory baton and run with it.

“Those Labour MPs who were elected to represent my constituents in the House of Commons must apologise for letting down the voters who trusted them.

“They were elected on the promise of change but the pressure on public finances continues and – just as the SNP warned – these cuts will have a profound impact on public services across Clackmannanshire & Dunblane.  If they do not stand up to their masters, their dishonesty will be a real betrayal of Scotland’s priorities.”

“Only by properly investing in communities like those in my Clackmannanshire & Dunblane constituency will we build a more prosperous Scotland, and it is as clear as day that we can only do that with the full powers of independence.”