“The SNP’s plans will cost every Scottish person £1,400” warns Murphy

As Labour launched their manifesto in Manchester, Scottish Labour were making announcements of their own. Scottish Leader Jim Murphy unveiled new analysis at an event in Glenrothes in which he has said the SNP’s plan for full fiscal authority would cost every person in Scotland £1,400.

Murphy highlighted that in the constituency where he was speaking, Glenrothes, the 89,197 sized population would lose £127 million a year in public spending under the SNP.

This analysis has come after Labour have accused Nicola Sturgeon SNP leader of being unable to answer questions about her plans to get rid of the Barnett formula.

Yet despite Labour attacks like these in recent months, polls show that support for the SNP isn’t waning. According to TNS  today the SNP are on 52%, getting more than double the support than Labour, who are on 24%. More than that, this 28-point is a significant jump from last month when the parties were on 46% and 30% respectively.

Attempting to chip away at the strength of support for the nationalist Murphy laid out the decision for voters:

“The choice at this election couldn’t be clearer – investment in the future of young Scots, and an end to austerity with Scottish Labour, or losing £1,400 per person for our schools and hospitals with Nicola Sturgeon’s plans for full fiscal autonomy.

“Nicola Sturgeon can dodge questions in television studios, but she can’t hide from the facts. Since dropping this Barnett bombshell last week, she has tried to hide from the truth, but she can’t run from revelations that the SNP’s economic plan would mean austerity max for Scotland.

“Here in Glenrothes alone, money from the Barnett formula is worth £127million for public spending. 

“The SNP’s plan would put an end to that funding. That isn’t just a number, it’s a generation of Scottish young people who will see their potential squandered. 

“Scottish Labour will use our UK wide tax system to invest £1billion in the future of Scotland’s young people – including a Scottish Job Guarantee, finding work for the 5000 young Scots aged 18-24 who have been claiming JSA for over a year.

“The SNP’s plan for full fiscal autonomy puts the future of those 5000 young Scots at risk, and guarantees austerity max for Scotland, as we face £7.6billion of cuts.

“The Tories cannot win in Scotland, they need someone to beat Labour for them – and that’s the SNP, who are acting as the Tories’ little helpers.

“The only party that is big enough and strong enough to beat the Tories is Labour, and on the morning of 8th May, we will start to change our country, bringing hope to all young Scots.”