Keir Starmer is right that the Scottish Government should spend all of the extra NHS cash given to Holyrood on our struggling health service. After 14 years of torrid Tory rule, this Labour Government handed the Scottish Government a huge spending boost.
Starmer promised never to return to austerity and he has given the SNP the financial backing which they have been demanding for years. This was a good deal for Scotland and marks a fresh change from Conservative cuts.
The Prime Minister is also right that the Nationalists have wasted money in their 17 years in charge and have too often sought to blame others. The SNP used up over £400million on the ferry fiasco – four times the amount which was planned for the much-needed new boats.
Hundreds of thousands of pounds were also spent on the hopeless challenge against the gender recognition reform block. And there are many more examples of the Scottish Government wasting money rather than prioritising health, housing and education.
Despite having higher levels of income tax rates than other parts of the UK, public services are not any better in Scotland. One in seven Scots are on NHS waiting lists and our once world-leading education system is in decline. Child poverty is also at the same level that it was when the SNP came to power 17 years ago
There is no point in demanding extra money from the UK Government if it is just going to be thrown away and does not improve our lives. There are no more excuses for the SNP and it is up to them to deliver.
Calm the chaos
Tonight our towns and villages will be thronged with people as we celebrate Bonfire Night. For the majority, it will be a chance to meet with friends, family and neighbours for a bit of sparkly firework fun.
But for a minority, it will be seen as an opportunity to spread disorder and fear. Already at Halloween we have witnessed disgusting scenes in Edinburgh’s Niddrie estate, where a female police officer was injured when a brick was thrown through her car window.
And in previous years we have witnessed appalling scenes on bonfire night with entire housing estates terrorised by rioting gangs. Fire Brigade union bosses are appealing for calm, reminding people to keep their celebrations fun but also within the law.
We support that message – and we sincerely hope our emergency service heroes and heroines stay safe as they go about their duties.
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