Hands off Scotland's grant, warns Alex Salmond

ANY move by a UK government to cut public spending in Scotland would be "neither understood nor forgiven" by Scots, the First Minister has said.

In a letter to Chancellor Alistair Darling, Alex Salmond has called for "stability" in the Scottish budget, and warned that any reduction in the Scottish Parliament's block grant next year would bring "political consequences" and "economic costs" that "cannot be tolerated in this period of fragile recovery".

The First Minister's letter, which was also sent to shadow chancellor George Osborne of the Conservatives and Vince Cable of the LibDems, noted that the Scottish Parliament's budget had been passed with a large majority. He wrote: "I want to emphasise, on behalf of Scotland, that any move by a future Westminster government, of whatever hue, to act in a way that reduced public spending in Scotland in 2010-11 below the budget agreed last week by the Scottish Parliament would be neither understood nor forgiven here.

"In these difficult times for the public finances, for the people of Scotland and of the rest of the UK, and for the economy, we need – as a minimum – some degree of stability of plans and purpose. The Scottish Parliament has signalled that it stands behind the proposals that have been debated and agreed here, across all parties.

"Any move unilaterally to cut funding in 2010-11 would not only bring political consequences in Scotland but also economic costs that cannot be tolerated in this period of fragile recovery."

A Treasury spokeswoman said: "Alistair Darling has set out plans to lock-in the recovery and half the deficit in four years.

"Every single department will be making efficiencies to ensure key front line services are protected. The Scottish Government should be no different."