Say no to unfair and unjust budget cuts
Rather than vote for the SNP budget when it came before the Scottish Parliament earlier this month, I elected to stand up for local communities throughout Scotland.
Basically, this is another ‘cuts’ budget. I am fed up seeing local councils penalised by this SNP government.
Research published last year shows that councils have had to face £898m cuts since 2013.
What that means in practice is that jobs and services are being hammered all over the country. We are seeing library services cut, and support for people with additional support needs withdrawn.
In Glasgow, we are even seeing four public golf courses in the city being proposed for closure. What an absolute scandal that the biggest city in Scotland ,the ‘home of Golf,’ is shutting down courses. So much for all the talk about a positive and lasting legacy on the back of the 2014 Commonwealth Games and 2018 European Championships which were held in Glasgow.
I voted against the budget because it is fundamentally unfair.
If you are a Government Minister earning more than £90k, sitting in a plush office and being ferried around in a chauffeur driven car, you will pay less tax.
If you are a single parent, your council tax bill will rise by 4.84 per cent. If you want to take your kids to the library, the hours may be cut, or it may even be closed. If you need additional support for any of your children , this also faces being cut.
That is unfair and unjust – that is why I voted against the SNP budget.
On the subject of cuts, I have been supporting residents in Dechmont over the issue of the 172 bus, which runs through Halfway and on to East Kilbride.
McGill’s /SPT have withdrawn the section of the route covering the Dechmont part of Halfway.
This is unacceptable and I am campaigning with Cambuslang East Councillor Walter Brogan and local residents to have the route reinstated.
The bus is necessary as many pensioners who live in the area need it to reach Cambuslang and East Kilbride.
The area is hilly and it is difficult for many people to walk to the main road.
As reported in last week’s Rutherglen Reformer, I am urging all local people to support the campaign to overturn the decision by SPT/McGill’s.