Scottish Labour 'in denial' over Budget cut

Chancellor Alistair Darling has admitted that Labour is planning spending cuts "tougher and deeper" than those implemented by the Conservatives in the 1980s, yet Scottish Labour is still in denial regarding the £3 billion cut to Scottish budget (your report, 26 March).

These cuts are premature, as the sensible option is to have a stimulus package for at least another 12 months.

Labour created a massive UK national debt long before the banking crash, but uses political opportunism to bash the bankers to deflect attention from its own failings on the economy. Many countries, such as Australia and the Scandinavian nations, are much better off than the UK, as they properly regulated against banks using reckless financial models.

CALUM STEWART

Montague Street

Edinburgh

Alex Salmond is right to point to the real-terms cut in the Scottish budget thanks to the Chancellor's statement this week (your report, 26 March).

Labour's argument that the money has simply been spent more quickly will come as little comfort to the people kept in a job last year, who now face redundancy, thanks to accelerated spending.

However, the First Minister is trying to have it both ways.

Just as he argues forcibly that less money in real terms year-on-year is a cut, his housing minister, Alex Neil, and his finance secretary, John Swinney, are saying the exact opposite to housing leaders, arguing against a 200 million cut in the housing investment budget next year.

Are we to assume that Alex Salmond has not persuaded his key ministers of his argument, or is he trying to have his cake and eat it at the same time?

GEORGE WHITE

Upper Grove Place

Edinburgh

"There has, unfortunately, been no sign as yet that the government appreciates the anxiety which exists in Scotland about Scottish affairs" – Lord John Hope, MP, North Midlothian to parliament in 1945.

Watching Mr Darling delivering his Budget, I felt this has not changed.

DONALD J MacLEOD

Woodcroft Avenue

Aberdeen