21 January 2010
Immediate release 

SNP BUDGET FAILS DUMFRIES AND GALLOWAY

GIVES TORY COUNCIL EXCUSE TO ATTACK FRONTLINE SERVICES

Local Labour politicians have condemned the SNP for failing to present a budget that benefits Dumfries and Galloway. The SNP Scottish Government presented their stage one Budget Bill for the 2010/11 Scottish budget to Parliament yesterday (20 January).

Dumfries MSP Elaine Murray said: "I wanted to see the SNP come forward with a budget that will boost jobs, the economy and homes in Dumfries and Galloway. I voted against the SNP budget as it will damage our region.

"One of our top priorities in Dumfries and Galloway is housing. This budget will make an already perilous situation even worse. The SNP are slashing the money available for affordable housing by over £200 million, putting projects in our region under threat. Even worse, they have refused to come clean with our Council about how much cash they’ll actually get. How are we supposed to plan ahead when we’re in the dark about the figures?

"They’re cutting the budget of our Council and our Tory Administration have leapt at the chance to target essential frontline services relied upon by the most vulnerable in our region.

"This is all a time when the SNP Government’s budget is increasing by £1 billion. What’s more, they have also squandered £1.5 billion in reserves. They must stop pouring money into their own obsessions such as preparing for separation and the discredited Scottish Futures Trust.

"The SNP Government in Edinburgh doesn’t care about Dumfries and Galloway. Whereas Labour built 13 new schools in our region, the SNP are building none. When allocating £34 billon in European funding for jobs, they didn’t give us a penny. The story is the same for the budget.

Leader of the Labour Group, Ronnie Nicholson, is angry that the Tory Administration of Dumfries and Galloway Council is directing the impact of the cuts in the council’s budget at the most vulnerable in the region. "In the face of budget reductions a responsible council would fight tooth and nail to make sure the most vulnerable are protected, but the Tories are ready to slash and burn essential frontline services.

"It’s a question of priorities. The Tories cannot be trusted to look after those most in need of help. The elderly and disabled are going to be worst hit by the Tory Council’s short sighted plans."

Dumfries and Galloway MP Russell Brown added: "The Edinburgh SNP Government have more money than ever, with almost £1 billion more to spend than last year. It’s outrageous that they’re slashing the money for Dumfries and Galloway and are putting much needed affordable housing in our area on the line.

"And yet they are able to find millions preparing to split Scotland from the UK and bump up the budget of the Scottish Futures Trust, their failed pet project.
 
"Cutting core services while directing more taxpayer cash to their own political campaigns is not the mark of a responsible government.

"By reducing the budget for local government the SNP are giving the Tories running our Council the excuse they need to revert to form: carelessly attacking the vulnerable by ripping apart the services they reply upon."
 
ENDS
 
CONTACT - ANDREW MACKENZIE 07769206856