SNP SUPPORT STUC RALLY – THERE IS A BETTER WAY

For immediate use: Friday 22nd October 2010

Attn: NEWSDESKS
POLITICAL CORRESPONDENTS

The SNP today issued a statement supporting the STUC’s rally (Saturday
23rd October) against the Westminster cuts announced this week by the
Conservative and Lib Dem Government.

This week's announcements from the UK Government see the potential closure
of two RAF bases in the North East of Scotland and a £1.3 billion cut to
next years Scottish budget.  Crucially the Con-Dem Government is to cut
£800 million of capital spending from Scotland, directly threatening
12,000 jobs across Scotland.

SNP MSP for Edinburgh East and Cabinet Secretary for Justice Kenny
MacAskill who will attend the rally said:

“Scotland has come together in the past against the decisions of a
Conservative Government and it is time to work together again.

“There is a better way to deal with the UK’s  financial problems than to
cut a swathe through the public services that are at the heart of our
society or to threaten the values that Scotland holds dear.  This weeks
announcement from the Treasury puts 12,000 jobs directly at risk.

“I congratulate the STUC on bringing workers across Scotland together to
show their strength against the decisions of successive Westminster
governments to cut too far and too fast.

“The SNP in Government will do what we can to protect Scottish values,
Scottish services and minimise the impact of the cuts, but without the
full economic powers that would allow us to grow the economy and deliver
the revenues we need to protect public services there can be no doubt
about the tough times to come.

“Today workers across Scotland can send a strong message to Westminster
that Scotland rejects their cuts and that we will work together for a
better way, to make Scotland better.”

ENDS