SNP Government told to 'end the excuses' and invest in public services following Budget boost

dailyrecord.co.uk:

The SNP Government must "end the excuses" and invest in public services after receiving a £3.4bn Budget boost, Scotland's most senior trade unionist has said.Roz Foyer said the extra cash for Holyrood should also be used to settle a long-running dispute involving striking council workers in Perth & Kinross, which has closed dozens of schools.It comes after Rachel Reeves used her first Budget since Labour won power to announce a huge hike in public spending across the UK - including the largest real-terms settlement for the Scottish Government in the history of devolution.Holyrood is now in line to receive £47.7 billion in the next financial year – including £3.4 billion due as a result of decisions made by the Chancellor.Foyer, general secretary of the Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC), told the Record: “The UK Government budget has, frankly, gone further than expected with £40 billion worth of tax rises predominantly falling on private wealth and business. "As a result, the Scottish Government look set to bag a £3.4 billion Barnet bonanza that cannot be squandered."Our public services no longer need to be on life support.

With £1.5 billion being added to government coffers this year alone, the Westminster blame game is dead. "It’s no longer credible for Scottish Government ministers to plead poverty whilst they’re set to bag billions in consequentials and have their own parliamentary powers to raise even more."Our message is simple: end the excuses.

This week alone, the First Minister called for an end to local government strikes in his constituency. He’s now got the money, with change to spare, to sort it out entirely.