MSP says public services in Edinburgh at risk because of Holyrood cuts

Lothian MSP Gordon Lindhurst has hit out at the SNP Government for continuing to cut local authority budgets, including The City of Edinburgh Council.

The Scottish Conservative and Unionist MSP’s call comes after the Scottish Parliament’s Independent Research Centre (SPICE) produced new figures highlighting the cuts made by the SNP Government in recent years to local authorities.

Between 2013/14 and 2018/19 the SNP Government cut total spending given to local authorities by 7.5%.

In Edinburgh by 2019/20 that means a cut in funding of £233 per head and a reduction in funding of £61 million. The City of Edinburgh Council are faced with finding savings of £47 million in this current financial year.

Mr Lindhurst says this puts vital public services and jobs at risk and called on the SNP to stop passing on the burden of cuts to a local level.

He said: “The SNP Government have no hiding place when it comes to local Government cuts.

“These new figures highlight just how the SNP have continued to cut Edinburgh’s budget in recent years.

“Their continued cutting only puts vital services like education, social care and maintaining our roads at risk, as well as the vital jobs that come with them.

“With funding being cut at over £200 per person across the city, it is beyond the point where councils are struggling to cope.

“The SNP must halt their cuts to local authorities who need to be given the proper resources to deliver services to local people.”