Cole-Hamilton speaks in budget debate

Speaking in the Scottish Parliament during the debate on the budget this afternoon, Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP said:

“This is a budget that:

“Slashes energy efficiency in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis.

“Carves a third off the housing budget in the middle of a housing emergency.

“Cuts the drugs budget in the middle of a drugs death emergency.

“Removes £63m from enterprise, trade and investment when the economy is in desperate need of a kickstart. 

“Starves schools, universities and colleges of funding when our hard-won, global advantage in education is slipping away from us.

“And it puts a red pen through initiatives that would create green jobs and reduce emissions.

“These are the choices the Scottish Government has made, and I and my party can’t abide any of them.

“Scottish Liberal Democrats will stand up for a growing and thriving economy. An economy which creates prosperity and lifts people out of poverty. An economy which generates the tax revenue we need to invest in lifting up Scottish education, rescuing the NHS and building more warm homes.

“It is painfully clear that this government is out of touch and out of ideas."