Council staff to ‘bear the brunt’ of cuts, claims Labour MSP

Dundee council staff fear their working conditions are under attack from SNP cuts, says Scottish Labour.

Labour MSP Jenny Marra said the council has pleaded for “flexibility” from its workforce as it faces another round of cuts in 2018-19.

She was speaking in a failed attempt from Labour to deliver a “vote of no confidence” in Derek Mackay’s draft Budget.

Ms Marra told Holyrood that Dundee will have to make £15.7 million of savings in 2018-19.

Councillors in Angus fear they will have to lose 800 jobs over the next three years, she added.

The Courier revealed earlier this month that 4,500 local authority jobs have been slashed since 2008.

Ms Marra said: “It’s very clear to me and to Scottish Labour who will bear the brunt of this latest round of cuts.”

Labour joined the Conservatives in voting against their own motion, which was heavily amended by the Greens and called for the SNP to change its budget proposals to “protect public services”.

Kenneth Gibson, for the SNP, said: “Labour voters would expect their MSPS to engage with the Scottish Government and look to improve the budget – but they can’t be bothered.

“They’d prefer to play at being radical than to actually achieve anything.

“That absurd approach saw the supposed firebrand left-winger Richard Leonard’s vote with the toxic Tories against a progressive budget – and lose.”

Scottish Labour MSP Jenny Marra.