Labour are still in opposition in Scotland. In case we forget, Anas Sarwar has been all over the papers talking about his “dossier” on SNP fiscal management.
Time was when no Labour politician would go near the word “dossier”. I guess it’s been a long time since the Iraq war.
But this one has dodgy elements of its own.
On first glance it’s the usual knockabout stuff, with the Scottish Labour leader bashing the SNP for Scotland’s “economic decline and financial mismanagement” but quickly it starts to raise questions about hypocrisy from the Scottish Labour leader. Mr Sarwar is attacking the SNP for council cuts and the tax differential between Scotland and England, taking a pop at the Scottish Government’s changes to income tax in Scotland and for allowing “fiscal drag” by freezing tax bands.
Qué? Forgive me, but I’m a little confused. How does Labour think it will fund councils better and slash rail fares in Scotland against the backdrop of Keir Starmer’s “painful” forthcoming Budget, if Mr Sarwar also opposes the SNP’s tax policy? Mr Sarwar needs to decide where his priorities lie.
The SNP have indeed got themselves into a fine mess. We know that SNP spending choices are largely to blame for the cuts we’re seeing in many areas. Yes, the size of Westminster’s block grant to Scotland comes into it, but independent economists are as one in pointing to the SNP’s expensive choices.
Anas Sarwar condemns the SNP leadership for policies he supports (Image: free)
The Scottish Fiscal Commission (SFC)........