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Appeal to party leaders to fight 'unacceptable' in-year reductions.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has called for parties across the Scottish Parliament to come together and fight the proposed reductions in Scotland’s budget laid out by the UK Government recently.

In a letter to the four opposition leaders, Ms Sturgeon said the parties must speak with a united voice to oppose the cuts to this year’s Scottish Government funding, which she described as “unacceptable”, “potentially damaging” and showing “little respect for the role of the Scottish Parliament”.

The letter, sent to Kezia Dugdale, Ruth Davidson, Willie Rennie and Patrick Harvie, also set out the Scottish Government’s alternative to the UK Government’s austerity programme, with a moderate increase in public spending of 0.5 per cent a year in real terms from 2016-17 to 2019-20 allowing for a balance between investment and ensuring public finances remain sustainable.

The full text of the letter is as follows:

As you will have no doubt seen, the Chancellor of the Exchequer has recently announced that reductions will be made to UK Government Department budgets this financial year. We expect consequential reductions to be made to this year’s Scottish Budget as a result of this announcement.

The Scottish Government has set out the case for an alternative to the UK Government’s austerity programme. We will continue to argue that a moderate increase in public spending of 0.5% a year in real terms, between 2016-17 and 2019-20, strikes the best balance between investing in public services and ensuring the sustainability of the public finances. I firmly believe that this would be a fairer and more effective approach to take, but I also recognise there are a range of views across the political spectrum in the Scottish Parliament about the overall course of public spending and its impact on the economy. I look forward to continuing that debate.

However, I hope that you will agree with me that all parties in Scotland must unite in making clear to the UK Government that it is unacceptable for reductions to be imposed on this year’s Scottish Budget. Not only do such reductions have a potentially damaging impact on our programmes and public services, but the Chancellor’s approach shows little respect for the role of the Scottish Parliament itself in approving the annual devolved Scottish Budget.

The Scottish Government will be making these points forcefully over the coming days and I would welcome an indication from you that your party will support such a response.

Notes To Editors

The letters come following the Chancellor’s announcement recently of in-year spending cuts, despite Scotland’s budget having already been set by the Scottish Parliament.

The Deputy First Minister will meet the Chancellor on Monday and will raise the Scottish Government’s concerns during the talks. 

Find out more about the Office of the First Minister here - www.firstminister.gov.scot

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