Moray MP Douglas Ross has slammed the SNP Government’s spending review saying local services will be badly hit as a result of their plans.
Douglas says the SNP have yet again earmarked local government for brutal spending cuts, with no new money allocated until 2026-27 for council budgets, meaning significant real-terms cuts over the next few years.
The SNP already hit councils with a £251 million cut in this year’s budget.
Douglas also hit out at the SNP finding £20 million specifically for their plans to hold another independence referendum next year, despite families across Moray facing a cost-of-living crisis.
He accused SNP Finance Secretary Kate Forbes of “having skewed priorities” and of overseeing gross mismanagement of Scotland’s public finances.
Moray MP Douglas Ross said: “This spending review showed the stark reality of how the SNP have mismanaged the Scottish economy during their time in charge.
“They are facing a £3.5 billion black hole in their budget by 2026-27 which will have a devastating effect on communities and people right across Moray.
“Yet again, the SNP have earmarked local government budgets to be the most severely hit. They are facing another real-terms cut over the next few years.
“I know the Conservative administration in Moray will do their best to mitigate the effects of these cuts from the SNP, but the Finance Secretary all too often uses our councils as an easy target to pass cuts onto.
“This means less money once again for the crucial day-to-day services our communities rely upon. They’ve already been hammered year after year by the SNP and simply cannot take anymore.
“What a slap in the face that local government budgets are set to be hit by real-terms cuts, yet £20 million can magically be found to set aside for the SNP’s plans for another independence referendum next year.
“Pursuing independence will always be the nationalists overriding priority above all else. To commit this level of funding for another divisive referendum at a time when families in this area and across the country are facing a cost-of-living crisis is disgraceful.
“The SNP Government have had a record budget from the UK Government, but they’ve made wasteful spending decisions time after time. That is only going to delay the recovery from the pandemic in Moray and hit people in the pocket as well.”