Scots face ‘new era of austerity’ under Labour, says Shona Robison

Shona Robison has warned Scots that they face a “new era of austerity” under Labour.  

The finance secretary’s warning comes ahead of a ministerial statement later today in which she will update parliament on expected cuts to public services to balance the Scottish budget. 

Robison said cuts proposed by Labour “will have a profound effect on our ability to deliver for the people of Scotland”. 

Labour denies this claim and last week Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar accused the SNP of “financial mismanagement” and called for it to “take responsibility for fixing the mess it has made of public finances”.   

Among Sarwar’s criticisms of the SNP’s supposed financial failings are a failing NHS in which some Scots have been forced to seek private treatment due to long waiting lists, the freeze on council tax, and higher taxes for those earning over £29,000. 

A report by the Scottish Fiscal Commission last week said that while UK Government decisions have contributed to pressures on the Scottish budget, “much of the pressure comes from the Scottish Government’s own decisions”. 

It added the Scottish Government would face “persistent challenges” in balancing its budget because “past choices” had narrowed its “room for manoeuvre now and in the future”. 

Speaking ahead of her parliamentary statement on the Scottish Government’s financial position, Finance Secretary Shona Robison said: “The SNP Government has delivered a balanced budget in every year that we have been in office – and we will continue to do so. I am proud to serve in a government which is investing hundreds of millions of pounds to lift children in Scotland out of poverty, and is ensuring our police, our nurses and our teachers are the best-paid in the UK. 

“We have taken many tough choices - including asking those on higher incomes to pay a bit more income tax – in order that we can invest more in public services like our NHS. 

“But the fact is, the Scottish Government operates with a largely fixed budget determined by Westminster – and under the Labour government it is clear that we are entering a whole new era of austerity. The cuts that they are proposing to make will have a profound effect on our ability to deliver for the people of Scotland – but the SNP Government will do everything we can to protect people and public services from the cuts that Westminster is making to our budget.” 

“Were Scotland an independent country, we would not be paying the price for bad decisions taken at Westminster - whether that be years of austerity cuts, Brexit, or reckless mini budgets - all of which have taken money out of the economy and funding for public services. Scotland should be able to determine our own future, and we should have full the powers to invest in our people, our public services and the planet as a way to building a more prosperous country.” 

Commenting ahead of Robison’s update to parliament, Scottish Labour finance spokesperson Michael Marra said: “With brutal cuts to services and potential job losses looming, the usual SNP secrecy and spin will not cut it. It’s time for the SNP to come clean about the financial chaos it has created and tell us the truth about what lies ahead. 

“The SNP has said ‘essential’ jobs would be protected from cuts, but it has failed to say in any way what an ‘essential’ job actually is. This incompetence and failure to plan is causing uncertainty for public sector workers and chaos for service leaders, who now need urgent clarity. 

“The government must publish clear and detailed explanation of what exactly it is going to do and what the consequences will be.” 

Marra added: “The SNP’s pathetic attempts to deflect blame have been demolished by experts – it must drop the excuses and take responsibility for its own failure. 

“Scotland cannot keep paying the price for the SNP’s financial and economic illiteracy. 

“The Scottish Government must start being transparent about the public finances, end the waste, and treat taxpayers’ money with the respect it deserves.”