by Bill Heaney
Labour leader Anas Sarwar has announced himself as the special one for Scotland.
He sees his future as First Minister and looks forward to the election in May when he will win the keys of Bute House from John Swinney.
Anas Sarwar told the Holyrood parliament earlier today: “An additional £10.3 billion for Scotland’s public services since Labour came to power – this is a transformative amount of money.
“But the SNP can’t be trusted with people’s money.
“NHS waiting lists remain unacceptably high.
“Our schools falling down international league tables.
“Police numbers cut and rising crime on our streets.
“It’s why Scots are asking – Where has the money gone?
“That’s why we can’t risk a third decade of the SNP and John Swinney.
“In May Scots have a clear choice: More wasted money and wasted opportunity with John Swinney or a government that respects your money with me.
“Police stuck in A&E and courts with John Swinney or police on the street and safer communities with me.
“Long waiting lists with John Swinney or an NHS fit for the future with me.
“The past with John Swinney or the future with me.”
Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay said today that John Swinney should use extra funding resulting from the UK budget to lower income tax bills for Scots.
Meanwhile, at First Minister’s Questions, Tory leader Russell Findlay, right, highlighted the SNP’s past broken promises not to raise income tax and said John Swinney must at least keep his word this time. Findlay said bills were too high and taxpayers deserved more fairness.
He criticised Labour’s budget, which increased taxes by £26 billion to the highest levels in history.
Russell Findlay said: “John Swinney stood on a manifesto promise to freeze income tax rates and bands, only for the SNP to break it twice.
“He has misled the Scottish Parliament by falsely claiming to have maintained his manifesto commitments.
“The SNP are forcing Scottish taxpayers to pay more and more and more.
“There is another way. A common-sense way that would reward hard work and help the economy.
“Labour’s decision to end the two-child cap on universal credit means the SNP have £150 million more funding than they anticipated.
“Instead of raising the benefits bill, we believe Scottish taxpayers deserve to keep more of their own hard-earned money. They deserve fairness. They deserve a break from higher bills.
“John Swinney should instead use that £150 million to cut income tax.”
Top of page: Anas Sarwar with West Dunbartonshire councillors John Millar and Michelle McGinty.
Sarwar the millionaire lives on a different planet from the people of Scotland. Scottish Labour promised £1,000 off energy bills, that was cut to £150 in yesterdays budget. Labours time is up in Scotland. Labour are dancing to the tune of the racist party Reform instead of delivering policies which redistribute wealth & power in favour of the working class.