Badenoch MSP demands support for SNP budget
The MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch has challenged Labour and Tory opponents to “support valuable investment in the North of Scotland that’s pledged in the Scottish Government’s budget.”
Kate Forbes (SNP) is contesting that the Conservatives and Labour are staging politically-motivated opposition to investment set out in the budget that would benefit communities across the North of Scotland – with stage one of the budget debate taking place at Holyrood today (Thursday, February 2).
By voting against the budget, the Tories and Labour would be opposing investment in hospitals, schools and infrastructure in the North of Scotland including £591.8m for NHS Highland, a new elective care centre in Inverness; enhancing the main Highland train lines and redeveloping Inverness Station; improving the A9 and A96, and supporting air and ferry services across the country while maintaining funding for Rural and Islands Housing Funds and supporting plans for more autonomy for island communities.
Ms Forbes has called on opposition parties to back the Scottish Government’s proposals and support funding for communities in the North of Scotland: “It is disappointing to see Labour and the Tories more interested in political point scoring rather than standing up for their local communities in the North of Scotland – and I challenge them to drop their opposition and back the Scottish Government’s proposals.
“This Scottish Government budget provides a fair and strong funding deal for the North. To vote against all of this would be deeply disappointing and against the best interests of our community.
“Labour and the Tories should think again before choosing to rob the North of Scotland of these vital services in a narrow-minded campaign designed to achieve nothing more than embarrassing the SNP. This budget is too important for our communities to allow that to happen.”
