Moray MP Douglas Ross has condemned the “disgraceful” leaking of the Scottish budget, which he also says will “stifle” growth in the local area.
The statement from Scottish Government acting Finance Secretary John Swinney was delayed by more than half an hour after the Presiding Officer suspended Parliament to investigate why significant elements of the Budget were leaked to the BBC, almost two hours before the Budget was due to be delivered at Holyrood.
Douglas slammed the “appalling leaking of sensitive financial information” before also attacking the tax rises and other measures contained within the SNP-Green government’s Budget.
He criticised the decision by John Swinney to increase the higher rate of tax for ratepayers in Moray from 41p to 42p in the pound saying this will put them at a disadvantage to their counterparts south of the border.
Douglas also attacked the cuts to the rural affairs budget, which amount to a £50 million plus real-terms cut, saying it was typical of the SNP-Green government to “totally ignore” the needs of rural communities like Moray.
He also said it was a “dereliction of duty” from John Swinney not to mention dualling the A96 and A9 in his budget, showing how it “simply isn’t a priority” for this anti-car coalition.
Douglas added while the tax rise will go towards supporting the crisis-ridden NHS in Scotland, it makes up less than one per cent of total health spending.
Moray MP Douglas Ross said: “Before we even got the Budget statement from John Swinney, we had the disgraceful and appalling leaking of sensitive financial information to the media.
“It was a show of total disrespect that these tax changes were first unveiled to the BBC, rather than to the Parliament in Holyrood. I share the Presiding Officer’s anger that this was completely discourteous to fellow MSPs and the wider public.
“As for the Budget itself, I fear that the measures contained within the SNP-Green government’s Budget will only stifle growth in Moray going forward.
“The tax rises will hit many middle-earners in Moray who are key to our local economy’s future success and competitiveness.
“While John Swinney may have justified the tax rise by saying it will go to Scotland’s crisis-ridden NHS, it forms less than one per cent of health spending.
“He could have found this money without damaging Moray’s competitiveness with similar areas south of the border.
“John Swinney has received the biggest block grant ever from the UK Government, and while he is faced with tough challenges, he cannot keep blaming the UK Government for his failure to support communities like ours here in Moray.
“The fact the rural affairs budget has been hit with yet another savage real-terms cut is typical of the SNP-Green government totally ignoring the needs of Moray and will be a significant blow to our local economy.
“For the interim Finance Secretary to not even mention the dualling of the A96 and A9, which are so critical to Moray and the wider Highlands region shows how low down a priority it is for this anti-car coalition.
“Taken as a whole, this Budget is an anchor for future growth in Moray, rather than a springboard for it.”