Salmond told to 'grow up' over funding row

Published on Thursday 23 April 2009 22:08

ALEX Salmond was told yesterday to "grow up", get on with his job of running the Scottish Government and to stop complaining about the size of his budget.

Iain Gray, the Scottish Labour leader, seized on the First Minister's complaints about this week's Budget, which Mr Salmond claimed had cut 500 million from the Scottish block grant.

Mr Gray told Mr Salmond at First Minister's Questions that the amount of money coming to the Scottish Government would continue to rise despite the squeeze on public finances, and he told the First Minister to stop complaining and get on with his job.

In response, Mr Salmond accused Labour of cutting public finances just when they needed to be supported and warned that 9,000 jobs could go in Scotland as a result.

This week's Budget dominated First Minister's Questions at Holyrood, with all the party leaders taking the opportunity to focus on the knock-on effects of the Budget for Scotland.

Mr Gray asked Mr Salmond to confirm that the Scottish block grant would grow next year by 700 million, giving the Scottish Government more to spend.

The First Minister hit back by saying that there would be a 500 million difference between what had been expected in the Scottish grant and what actually will be handed over.