SNP hits out despite £2.6bn funding pledge
RISHI SUNAK claimed yesterday that his Spending Review would deliver for every corner of the United Kingdom, with billions in extra funding promised to devolved governments.
The Chancellor said t hat hi s announcements yesterday meant an additional £ 2.6 billion would be provided to a dministrations in Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast to help them fight the pandemic.
Scottish unionists have been frustrated that despite the UK Government’s furlough and self-employment support schemes assisting around 900,000 workers north of the border, the popularity of the SNP and independence has continued to surge.
Douglas Ross, the l eader of the Scottish Tories, said yesterday ’s commitments meant it was “now a fact” that UK ministers had “gone further than any government in peacetime history to protect jobs and support public services”.
However, the SNP complained that spending promises did not go far enough, and said a public sector pay freeze exposed the Government’s “twisted priorities”.
Mr Sunak also promised to accelerate four City and Growth Deals in Scotland, saying these would “create jobs and prosperity” in Tayside, the Borders, Moray and the islands.
The Chancellor said: “This Spending Review will help people in every corner of Scotland.
“It will provide billions of pounds to fight coronavirus, deliver the people’s priorities and drive the UK’S recovery.
“The Treasury is, has been, and will always be the Treasury for the whole of the United Kingdom. And this is a Spending Review for the whole of the United Kingdom.”
Mr Sunak said Nicola Sturgeon’s Government would get £2.4 billion overall in extra cash as a result of coronavirus spending and wider increases for public services, along with the £8.2 billion in additional money guaranteed to the Scottish Government in 2020/21.
However, Alison Thewliss, the SNP’S t reasury s pokeswoman, claimed Scotland had been “completely ignored by Westminster”.
Ms Thewliss added: “The fact that the Tories are wasting millions on a Brexit festival while slashing public sector pay, and cutting support for the world’s poorest, tells you everything you need to know about this Government’s twisted priorities.”