Ross: say no to indy spending

SCOTTISH CONSERVATIVE Party Leader

Douglas Ross insists it would be “inexcusable” if the coalition of SNP and Greens refused to divert the funding of £20 million set aside for the independence referendum towards other overstretched budgets.

Mr Ross says there is “absolutely no justification” not to use this money to support public services or tackle the cost-of-living crisis.

Research from the Scottish Conservatives has highlighted that the money would fund more than 1,000 new nurses, more than 650 police constables or around 600 teachers for a year.

STRIKING THE BALANCE

The money could also be used to help prevent crippling public-sector strikes in Scotland. Mr Ross said: “It was utterly shameful that Nicola Sturgeon and her government ever set aside this amount of money to pursue their number one obsession of breaking up the UK.

Nicola Sturgeon responded to the Supreme Court verdict as SNP leader rather than as First Minister. Why should taxpayers be footing the bill for her party-political campaigning when she could not be bothered to answer questions in Parliament?

“With the unequivocal ruling, there will be no referendum next year. So there is absolutely no justification for them failing to reallocate every penny of their

referendum fund.

“This is millions of pounds’ worth of funding that could support families and businesses through the global cost-ofliving crisis or help our NHS through a winter storm. It would be inexcusable if Nationalist ministers refused to divert money towards frontline services or those who need it most. We constantly hear ministers moaning about a lack of funds for Scotland’s public services, but they have always protected their referendum

slush fund.

“Ministers could also avoid crippling strike action, which will cause disruption for millions and be deeply damaging for the economy, if they put this sum towards

pay deals.

“These are the issues Scots want the SNP-Green government to be focused on tackling. Enough is enough. A majority of Scots do not want this referendum and there is no legal basis for it.”