Labour: Libraries have lost £250m in 10 years as vital council services were gutted
Libraries have lost out on more than £250 million over the last decade, according to Labour.
Citing research, the party said spending on library services in Scotland had fallen by 36% in a decade and blamed the budget cuts on the Scottish Government failing to properly fund local authorities.
Speaking as campaigns for the local council elections on May 5 began,
Scottish Labour’s local government spokesperson Mark Griffin said the SNP “aren’t interested in protecting local services”, adding: “The SNP have gutted local communities and treated local government with utter contempt.
“Year after year of brutal cuts have left a black hole in libraries funding – and this is the case for so many local services.”
The Scottish Government said “local authorities have a statutory duty to ensure that there is adequate provision of library services for their residents”.
Meanwhile, Scotland’s biggest local authority could see its first Snp-majority administration, its leader said yesterday. Glasgow City Council leader Susan Aitken said the SNP was working to increase its numbers there, after having fallen four councillors short of achieving the goal in the last local elections in 2017.
Asked if the SNP could achieve a majority, Aitken said: “I think it’s possible. We’re certainly working for that. We’re working to increase the number of councillors we have if we can. We have some key wards where we think we can improve the representation of SNP councillors.”
Aitken was speaking alongside First
Minister Nicola Sturgeon, who stressed the party was “working in the campaign for every single SNP vote and trying to get as many SNP councillors elected”.
Meanwhile, one of the UK’S most respected pollsters has warned the Tories’ position as the “voice of Unionism” in Scotland is under threat after research by Survation put Labour five points ahead of them. Professor John Curtice said the Downing Street parties during lockdown had played a significant role in the party’s declining fortunes. He said: “The one place (Boris) Johnson has to worry about is Scotland.”