SNP cuts a disaster for our climate
The SNP is raiding climate budgets and selling out our future to continue handouts of public cash to big business, says the Scottish Greens finance spokesperson, Ross Greer MSP.
Mr Greer’s comments followed a financial update that included the return of peak rail fares, which had previously been removed by the Scottish Greens, as well as cuts to the Nature Restoration Fund established by Green MSPs and to the budget for walking, wheeling and cycling which Scottish Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie had increased to record levels. £460 million is also being raided from the one-off income from Scotwind offshore wind energy projects.
Mr Greer said:
“This is a disaster for our climate. The SNP have chosen to slash spending on climate action and increase costs for commuters. Other options were available, but they’ve decided to cut the budgets for nature restoration and walking, wheeling and cycling, bring back peak rail fares and raid ScotWind funds originally intended for investment in our country’s future, especially in the green economy.
“With global temperatures rising, Scotland must be a climate leader but the SNP is taking us backwards.
“Contrast that with over £700 million of business tax breaks which remain untouched. Almost £250 million has been poured into the SBBS, a scheme which the government's own independent review could find no evidence of positive business outcomes from and which - despite its name - throws public money at large and extremely profitable companies and even at the shooting estates owned by wealthy elites.
“As even Labour frontbenchers have admitted, all roads lead back to Westminster when it comes to public spending. Their refusal to reverse 14 years of Tory austerity is a key cause of these cuts. However, that doesn’t change the reality that the SNP could have chosen to place the burden on big business, instead of on the planet and commuters.
“The SNP is paying lip service to the climate emergency, slashing critical spending whilst funding handouts to big business.”