SNP Priorities

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So after 18 years in power SNP ministers have decided to spend £40 million of taxpayers money on scrapping peak time rail fares ahead of next year's Scottish Parliament elections. 

The change doesn't come into effect until September 2025, but the real question is why didn't this happen long ago - after all SNP ministers have been spending £200 million a year on free bus travel for under-22-year-olds - see below!

I'm afraid Swinney's priorities are all wrong!

Imagination and Scottish Politics (December 09, 2024)

Iain Macwhirter's take on the SNP's budget is spot on - it's a wish list of promises without a price tag which nonetheless seems to have wrong-footed Scottish Labour.

SNP ministers have raised no new money in Scotland - the extra funds come entirely from the UK Labour Government through its controversial increase in National Insurance contributions.

Meanwhile Anas Sarwar is struggling to stamp his authority on the political stage - under Sarwar's leadership Labour tamely (and foolishly) backed the SNP's absurd support for self-ID and new gender recognition legislation.

Sarwar seems unwilling to challenge the logic of the SNP budget settlement which allocates £200 million to free bus travel for under 22-year-olds - while complaining they don't having the money for other benefits, eg £200 million for the Winter Fuel Allowance or to scrap the two child benefit cap.

What Sarwar needs, just like the SNP, is to be bolder and to show some imagination.



 

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