EMBARGOED: 00.01 hrs, Wednesday, 13th October 2010
Attn: NEWSDESKS
POLITICAL CORRESPONDENTS
LABOUR’S COUNCIL TAX DECISION A MASSIVE BLUNDER
Welcoming the latest BBC Scotland survey which shows they oppose cuts in health spending as their top priority followed by opposing an increase in council tax SNP MSP Joe FitzPatrick said that it showed the SNP is reflecting the Scottish public’s views on cuts whilst Labour and the LibDems had made a massive blunder on council tax.
The SNP has already pledged to protect the health budget by allocating Barnett consequentials in full to the Scottish NHS, and has frozen pay for senior public sector employees – reflecting the second most popular means to save public money.
In contrast Iain Gray has just recently announced that Labour will allow the Council tax to be increased. This was quickly supported by the LibDems.
The poll follows yesterday’s BBC survey which showed that 42% of Scots hold the Labour Government accountable for the cuts, with 39% blaming the Tory/LibDem government.
Commenting Mr FitzPatrick said:
“This poll is as welcome to the SNP as it will be unwelcome to Labour and the LibDems – it shows that it is the SNP which is reflecting the priorities of the people when it comes to the cuts being imposed by the Tory/LibDem government.
“The SNP immediately pledged to protect the health budget, and that is the people’s greatest priority.
“The poll also totally rejects Labour’s priority – raising the council tax further, which is only supported by 4% of people – which foolishly the LibDems have also backed.
“That just shows Labour has made an incredible blunder in announcing that policy, as have the LibDems in supporting it.
“Just as yesterday’s poll showed Scots understand the Westminster root cause of these cuts - the debts that were built up under Labour, and the Tory/LibDem cuts that are going too far, too fast – putting our economic recovery in danger.
"The SNP is the only party in Scotland with an alternative to the dismal decade of Westminster cuts – achieving the economic and financial responsibilities of independence that will allow us to grow our economy and support public services, jobs and families. As the BBC poll shows, we are putting the people’s priorities first.”
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