SNP SUPPORT STUC RALLY – THERE IS A BETTER WAY

For immediate use: Saturday 23rd 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 year’s 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