28/01/2009

Borderers will pay heavy price for Lib Dem budget “folly”

The people of the Borders will face rising council tax bills of up to 26% and more than 5,000 small to medium business in the region face increased business rates following the decision by Borders Liberals to bring down the Scottish Government’s budget proposals. Pay rises to public sector workers including nurses, doctors, policemen and Council staff amongst others are now under threat as a result of the vote. SNP MSP Christine Grahame said:

“An alliance of Liberal, Labour and Green MSPs failed to put forward any alternatives of their own to the Scottish budget and voted down the budget proposals.

“As a direct consequence of that reckless decision Borderers and people across the rest of Scotland now face increased Council tax bills and already hard pressed businesses face increased rates bills. A huge question mark now hangs over pay rises to nurses, doctors, policemen and other public sector workers because of the vote against by the Liberals and their Labour and Green colleagues.

“Official figures provided by the Scottish Government show that average council tax bills in the Borders will need to rise by 26%, or £280.76 a year.

“The Scottish Government has previously succeeded in significantly reducing the business rate burden on over 5,500 small to medium businesses in the Borders, but now that too looks under threat.

“The Liberals have been duped by the Labour Party once again into thinking that they can secure party political gain by taking part in an anti-SNP campaign that has nothing to do with upholding or protecting the interests of the Borders. Their actions today in rejecting the budget are pure folly and will damage local jobs, businesses and will result in Borderers paying higher Council tax bills at a time when they least need it.

“It is no secret that I have never held the Liberal Democrats in particular high regard, but their actions today, that will adversely impact on their own constituents surpasses by a mile their normal limits of hypocrisy and political cack-handedness.

“The Scottish Government will now use emergency powers to ensure that public service levels are maintained in the meantime. The Finance Minister has undertaken to do all he can to bring forward fresh budget legislation, but the timescale is extremely tight and will still require the approval of Parliament.

“Liberal MSPs should reflect on the damage they have done to the Scottish economy as a direct result of their actions today.”

SNP It’s time.....