The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Tory spending commitments a ‘pre-election bribe’, say SNP
Scottish MPs claim programme for 2020-21 will not offset Brexit harm
The SNP accused the chancellor of stumping up a “pre-election bribe” following the launch of the UK government’s spending review.
The Scottish Lib Dems echoed the sentiments, saying the spending programme unveiled by Sajid Javid for 2020-2021 will not make up for the harm through which Brexit will put the UK economy.
Sajid Javid promised he was “turning the page on austerity” as he embarked on a pre-election spending spree, promising cash for health, schools and the police.
The chancellor set out plans to increase current and capital spending by £13.4 billion in 2020-21 focused on the “people’s priorities”.
Shadow chancellor John McDonnell branded the statement a piece of “grubby electioneering” and accused the government of “pretending to end austerity when they do nothing of the sort”.
The spending plan for a single year was fast-tracked ahead of Brexit, with the normal multi-year settlement planned for next year.
An additional £1.2bn will come north as a consequence of Sajid Javid’s announcements, but Scottish Finance Secretary Derek Mackay said the money announced “gives us no greater certainty, does not undo the damage of austerity, fails to protect us from Brexit and simply gives just some of the money owed to Scotland”.
In his statement, Mr Javid told MPs: “We are turning the page on austerity and beginning a new decade of renewal.
“A new economic era needs a new economic plan and today we lay the foundations with the fastest increase in day-to-day spending in 15 years.”
The plan would add £13.4 bn to total public spending, including £1.7 bn for capital spending.
“These extra funds take the real increase in day-to-day spending to £13.8 bn, or 4.1%,” he said.
Kirsty Blackman, the SNP’s economy spokesperson, said: “The chancellor’s spending review highlights that the decade of deep and damaging Tory austerity that has been imposed on people across Scotland and the UK is far from over, and that Scotland continues
“Scotland continues to face being shortchanged and sidelined by Westminster KIRSTY BLACKMAN, SNP ECONOMY SPOKESPERSON
to face being short-changed and sidelined by Westminster.
“The reality is that the pre-election bribes do not mean an end to austerity, which we know has cumulatively cut the Scottish block grant by £12bn.”
Liberal Democrat Scottish Affairs spokesman Jamie Stone MP said: “If the Tory government really wanted to help the Scottish economy, they would stop Brexit. No-deal could cost Scotland £14bn a year, but Brexit of any sort would be devastating to the Scottish economy.”
The chancellor’s first major statement was also repeatedly criticised by Commons Speaker John Bercow for deviating from the topic of the spending round, straying into comments on Brexit and attacks on Labour.