Bold and decisive action from our UK Government
While the SNP continues to tear itself apart and neglect Scotland, the UK Government this week delivered a barnstorming budget for workers, families and businesses.
And although the warring gangs of Humza Yousaf, Kate Forbes and Ash Regan were too busy knocking lumps out of each other to notice, this was welcome news in the real world.
Bold and decisive action by our government in London will make a big difference to people’s everyday lives.
The budget offered substantial support for everybody struggling with the cost-of-living crisis by extending the Energy Price Guarantee until July, which should save households around £160 on average.
It gave drivers a boost by freezing fuel duty for the 13th year in a row.
It helped people find ways back into work.
It delivered a huge hike to defence spending which is essential to keep us safe while supporting the heroic people of Ukraine against the evil war criminal Vladimir Putin.
It delivered an extra £320 million directly to SNP ministers in Edinburgh to spend on supporting and — we can only hope — improving our public services.
To put it in context, that’s about the same amount of cash the SNP have squandered on the two CalMac ferries that still don’t float.
One of which Nicola Sturgeon ‘launched’ in 2017 as an expensive PR stunt.
In other words, it’s potentially a game-changing sum for Scottish public services, if it’s spent wisely.
While it’s great to see such significant investment in Scotland, the budget was about more than cold hard cash.
It also laid the groundwork for ambitious proposals to supercharge our economy. Chancellor Jeremy Hunt set out exciting plans to make the UK a science and technology superpower.
This will give Scottish businesses more freedom and opportunities to innovate which in turn will unleash the country’s full potential, drive growth and create jobs.
It was also welcome that the man at Number 11 Downing Street examined the economic landscape and saw the benefit of tax breaks for businesses.
These might seem like fairly normal things for a politician to do but compare it to SNP ministers at Holyrood who have little time for the business people who create the jobs and growth that Scotland so desperately needs.
Since taking office, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his team have been focused on restoring stability and getting the economy back on track.
Their sure and steady approach is working. Inflation is falling and the economy is growing more quickly, although there is more to do.
What we need now is an equivalent approach from the next SNP First Minister. Whoever that it, they must focus on Scotland’s huge challenges. More of the same SNP seeking of division and phoney grievance won’t cut it.
Our politicians need to give their full attention to the issues that really matter, not obsess about a damaging and distracting referendum on breaking up the UK.
This budget for growth gives the new First Minister the platform to take Scotland forward.
He or she needs to use it.
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