THE SNP have hit back at Tory claims that the Sustainable Growth Commission report is untruthful.
The row comes ahead of next Saturday’s Growth Commission roadshows in Ayr, the first of three due to take place across the country.
Ahead of that meeting SNP deputy leader Keith Brown told The National he would be launching a “fact checking service covering erroneous claims by opposition politicians and news stories with factual errors or claims that are mis-representative.”
Adam Tomkins, the Scottish Tory constitution spokesman said the pro-independence party should first subject their own economic proposals to the new “fact-checking” service.
“The SNP’s new commitment to fact-based politics is a welcome development,” he said.
“But if it is to mean anything, the SNP’s new fact-finding mission should start probing its own plans for independence. Over the summer, detailed analysis of the SNP’s latest independence blueprint has been published.
“That analysis makes things clear: this plan would mean cuts to public spending in Scotland beyond anything ever seen in this country.”
A spokesman for the SNP said: “The biggest threat to Scotland’s economy and long-term prosperity is the Tory government, who are determined to impose a devastating hard Brexit that will destroy Scottish jobs and damage people’s incomes and living standards for decades to come.
“The facts are that under the Tories UK economic growth is lagging at the bottom of the league tables, debt has soared, real wages have fallen, and the UK Government’s own analysis shows a Tory Hard Brexit could now lead to a catastrophic loss of 9% of GDP – costing Scotland over £12.7 billion a year, a loss equivalent to over £2,300 for every person.
“If Ruth Davidson had any backbone at all, she would speak out against the damage a decade of Tory austerity has already caused”.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel