SNP MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Alasdair Allan has urged the Labour Chancellor to halt her plans to make £14 billion of spending cuts following her emergency budget on 26th March 2025.
By 2030, the UK Government’s own analysis predicts more than 3 million families across the UK are set to lose crucial financial support. The announcement prompted SNP Westminster Leader Stephen Flynn to call out Labour on creating a ‘new era of austerity’.
Following the statement, Alasdair Allan commented:
“We’ll have to wait until a detailed analysis has been conducted to know exactly what this worrying statement means for Scotland and the Scottish Government. But what is clear is that the UK Labour Government will be making £14 billion worth of cuts in public spending.
“The Western Isles had to endure 14 years of austerity from an out-of-touch Tory Westminster Government. Now, despite the promise of ‘change’, some of the islands’ most vulnerable residents such as the elderly, disabled and worst-off families are set to see that continue under Labour.
“Today, Labour should have reversed the ongoing economic damage of Brexit and increased support for those who need it. Instead, they have made the wrong political choice and attempted to pander to populist parties.
“This is far from the change island communities were promised. The Western Isles needs an end to cuts from Westminster and would not be on the receiving end of these cuts if we were an independent nation within the European Union.”
