Cole-Hamilton responds to Scottish Budget

Speaking in Parliament this afternoon in response to the Scottish Budget, Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP said:

“The SNP has spent years ignoring expert warnings about the lack of a long-term economic strategy about the impact of its failure, its failure, to grow the economy.

“Scotland needs predictability and a long-term plan for both tax and the wider economy, not erratic changes that will undermine confidence.

“We now know, from this budget, who is going to pay the price.

“Everyone who is currently going without the social care that they need. Parents who can’t access childcare. Pupils left behind as Scotland slides down the international rankings. Councils are on the brink and education is half of what they do.

“The vulnerable, pupils, taxpayers, all taxpayers, all suffering the cost of SNP/Green incompetence from ferries to the white elephant takeover of social care.

“This is about priorities, so can I ask the Cabinet Secretary: why is her government slashing energy efficiency in the middle of a climate emergency? And why is she slashing the housing budget in the middle of a housing emergency?”