Labour’s plan to cut Scottish funding

Here’s why it’s important.

During the referendum on independence the promise was made that the Barnett formula would continue.

The Vow explicitly states that “Because of the continuation of the Barnett allocation for resources, and the powers of the Scottish Parliament to raise revenue, we can state categorically that the final say on how much is spent on the NHS will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.”

By Labour’s own admission, the Barnett formula is worth £4 billion in funding for Scotland’s public services. 

Now both UK and Welsh Labour are calling for Barnett to be scrapped. 

 

Both the UK and Welsh Labour manifestos contain this, identical paragraph. 

 

If you’re wondering what that means, Labour’s First Minister for Wales has explained. 

 

 

In fact, that paragraph that appears in the Welsh and UK Labour manifestos is missing from Scottish Labour’s manifesto. 

 

But that’s not all. Scottish Labour try to claim they’ll use the Barnett formula (yes, the Barnett formula that UK and Welsh Labour have gone into the General Election pledging to scrap) to boost spending in Scotland. 

 

 

As long as part of the Scottish Parliament’s budget continues to be determined by Westminster, we will fight to protect the Barnett formula.