Swinney: UK faces seven years of cuts

Saturday 20 October 2012

FINANCE Secretary John Swinney placed the economy at the heart of the debate over Scotland's future, as he warned his party conference that the status quo would mean seven more years of spending cuts.

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Katrine Bussey

Mr Swinney hit out at Unionist policies at Westminster and Holyrood as he demanded UK Chancellor George Osborne end his "obsession with austerity".

But he also turned on Scottish Labour leader Johann Lamont after she questioned the affordability of policies such as free university education and free prescriptions and called for an end to the "something for nothing culture".

The Finance Secretary told the SNP annual conference in Perth that Ms Lamont should hang her head in shame for that "insult".Mr Swinney argued that only independence would allow Scotland to flourish.He criticised the Government at Westminster and its Labour predecessor as he said: "We know that between Labour and the Tories, the double-dip recession has 'Made in London' stamped all over it."What we want for Scotland is the opportunity to create a recovery 'Made in Scotland', with the powers of an independent country to bring it about."He said Scots had a clear choice in the 2014 independence referendum and insisted the SNP would win that "because we have a vision of a better Scotland".Leaving the UK, Mr Swinney argued, would allow for "faster, sustainable economic growth with opportunities for all to flourish".He added: "We face the unprecedented economic challenges of this recession without the powers that other countries have at their disposal."He turned on Mr Osborne, saying the UK Government's policies would lead to "even more London cuts" in the years to come."The Chancellor's mistakes are laid bare for all to see," Mr Swinney said. "The lack of a coherent economic plan; the front-loading of cuts when the recovery was most fragile; and crucially, the decision to shift the burden of cuts on to capital investment."He added: "What makes the situation truly tragic is that the Chancellor's actions are in themselves self-defeating."The lack of growth means that, far from cutting the deficit, the UK Government's own prediction is of an extra £158 billion of borrowing over the next five years just to pay for the cost of economic failure."That will give rise to even more London cuts in 2015-16 and 2016-17. The status quo means seven consecutive years of cuts and counting."The Scottish Government has repeatedly called for Mr Osborne to provide more cash for capital infrastructure projects to boost the economy, and Mr Swinney urged the Chancellor to use his forthcoming autumn budget statement to change track.He said: "Today, I call on George Osborne to end his obsession with austerity. Use the autumn budget statement to change direction."It's time he listened. It's time he learned. And if he won't, it's time he left it to us, to Scotland, to shape a better economic future for our country."Labour, Mr Swinney said, was now "to the right of the Tory Party" in Scotland, after its Scottish leader cast doubt over popular but expensive Scottish Government policies such as free university tuition and the council tax freeze.In a bid to try to help businesses, Mr Swinney used his speech to announce the creation of a Dragons' Den-style fund.Firms will be able to bid for up to £50,000 from a cash pot of £1 million, with companies pitching their plans to leading business figures such as Sir Tom Hunter and Sir Willie Haughey.The Finance Secretary said this new Encouraging Dynamic Growth Entrepreneurs (Edge) fund would help accelerate innovative business ideas.

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Swinney: UK faces seven years of cuts

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