Leaders make economy centre stage in campaign

Scottish Conservatives leader Ruth Davidson. Picture: Neil Hanna

ECONOMIC policy is likely to dominate election campaigning in Scotland today as Nicola Sturgeon attacks the “Westminster consensus on cuts”, and Jim Murphy outlines what he claims will be the cost of full fiscal autonomy for families.

Both politicians are on the campaign trail, with the First Minister visiting New Lanark, South Lanarkshire, and the Labour leader in Cumbernauld, North Lanarkshire.

The visits come the day after Labour published its election manifesto, and on the day that the Conservative Party publishes theirs.

Speaking ahead of her visit to New Lanark, Ms Sturgeon said: “The Westminster consensus on cuts is having a devastating impact on communities across Scotland - pushing 100,000 more of our children into poverty and forcing more families to have to rely on foodbanks.

“In a wealthy country like Scotland that is nothing short of a disgrace - and shows exactly why we need a real alternative to the Tory-Labour cuts consensus.

“People in Scotland have always known to expect harsh, ideological cuts from the Tories - and today’s cuts manifesto is likely to be more of the same.

“But that Labour have been so quick to meekly fall into line with George Osborne’s plans just goes to show how far they have moved away from their roots.

“People in Scotland are crying out for a real alternative to another five years of cuts which are punishing the working poor and vulnerable people - and the SNP is the only party committed to putting an end to austerity.”

Mr Murphy, who will visit a nursery in Cumbernauld, will increase pressure on the SNP over the £7.6 billion spending gap the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) says Scotland would face if it took control over all tax and spending.

Ms Sturgeon has said she would like full fiscal autonomy for Scotland ‘’as quickly as the other parties agree to give it”, while SNP depute leader Stewart Hosie described the IFS study as ‘’absolutely irrelevant’’.

Scottish Labour will release analysis of the impact on tax credits for working families if full fiscal autonomy was to be introduced.

Mr Murphy said: “Five years of Tory austerity have been brutal on Scotland’s working families, the last thing they need is more austerity, but that is exactly what full fiscal autonomy would mean.

“Over 200,000 children in Scotland are living in poverty; this plan from the SNP would completely and utterly fail those kids. We cannot let that happen.

“Scottish Labour has a better plan for a fairer Scotland. We’ll start by driving up living standards by making work pay and tackling household costs.

“Scottish Labour will deliver £800 million of extra investment into Scotland using fair taxes like the Mansion Tax on properties worth over £2 million and a tax on bankers’ bonuses.

“Scotland doesn’t have to choose between Tory austerity or SNP austerity max. Scottish Labour is the only party on the ballot paper offering a real alternative to austerity. Only Labour is big enough and strong enough to kick the Tories out and give working families the support they need.”

Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson will also be in South Lanarkshire, campaigning in Uddingston.

She has welcomed the party’s UK manifesto, which will confirm that a new Scotland Bill will be introduced in a Conservative government’s first Queen’s Speech.

It will enact the recommendations of the Smith Agreement on further devolution, signed by all five of Scotland’s leading parties last year.

Ms Davidson said: “This is a manifesto for working people right across Britain.

“It confirms that we will press ahead immediately with our plan to build a stronger, better Union as promised to Scottish voters last year.”