Holyrood has powers to fight austerity

On Thursday the Scottish Government will present its draft budget to MSPs and I will be arguing for much needed investment in our public services in Rutherglen and Cambuslang. Previous budgets from this SNP government, have had brutal effects on services we all rely on. Rather than pass on cuts from the Tory government we should be charting another course and using the new powers of the Scottish Parliament to stop the cuts.

Our parliament in Edinburgh has extensive new powers devolved from Westminster, just as the SNP argued for. However, people will not forgive a government which refuses to use these powers to stop the Tory cuts.

My party is very clear that we would use the new tax powers to make those with the broadest shoulders pay their fair share, stand up for communities and fight against austerity.

Last year the SNP cut £500 million from local council budgets. This has had a direct impact on vital local services like schools and social care.

Only by investing in our local public services can we give people the skills they need to get on. Labour will table amendments to the Scottish budget for a 50p top rate of tax for those earning over £150,000 a year so we can invest in schools, and a penny for public services.

SNP MSPs have a choice: they can work with Labour to invest in our public services or they can accept a Tory budget from Westminster.

I hope SNP MSP Clare Haughey will challenge the finance secretary this week and join me in demanding the Scottish Government acts to stop the cuts affecting the communities we represent in Rutherglen and Cambuslang.

Our constituents are concerned about what is coming down the line. This does matter to local people.

If you’re in a community with a library threatened with closure, if you’re a parent of a school where they can’t afford the photocopying, if you’re staying in a house where they can’t afford the repairs the SNP’s apologies for austerity aren’t good enough. We need action. We need to use the new powers.

As ever, the devil is in the detail. However, with the budget this week I fear we will see SNP ministers dance to a Tory tune and act as Phillip Hammond’s little helpers in passing on the cuts. The last budget passed by SNP members slashed funding for local services like schools and social care, which put the life chances of people across Scotland at risk.

I am clear: the SNP shouldn’t use the Scottish Parliament as a conveyor belt for Tory austerity.

We should use the tax powers of the parliament to invest in public services and give everybody here in Rutherglen, Cambuslang and right across our country a fair chance in life.

The Scottish Parliament has the power to stop cuts to public services if the SNP is bold enough to use them.