Best quote of the SNP Conference from the leader John Swinney: "Labour should be ashamed to show either of their two faces in Scotland ever again."

My post-SNP conference analysis for The The Spectator: It was only one conference, but I have a sense of hesitant optimism that John Swinney and Kate Forbes MSP can build a new and better concord between my party and the electorate #SNP24 __ spectator.co.uk/article/can-th…

In 2022 Labour FM Mark Drakeford said unplanned Welsh budget cuts were due to inflation eroding the block grant and the Tory Govt awarding public sector pay increases with no new money to Wales for the same pay awards. Why was Labour correct then but the SNP wrong now?

🗞️ Renowned academic Prof. John Curtice says that Scottish independence and Brexit are very different kinds of nationalism. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Unlike Brexit’s exclusionary nature, the Scottish independence campaign is largely civic, inclusive and outward-looking. scotsman.com/news/scottish-…

In a civilised society, benefits are supposed to be there to provide a safety net against deprivation. And yet, in Labour Britain, almost half of Universal Credit recipients have ran out of food in the past month. More austerity will only make it worse. bigissue.com/news/social-ju…

📢 In 2015, Anas Sarwar was one of those Labour MP’s told to vote for £30bn of spending cuts. ➡️ Rather than question whether Labour were on the right side of the argument, Anas Sarwar followed his party whip. 🥀 Labour helped start austerity, now they are imposing it.

🚨 NEW: Starmer's favourability collapses to -21 ✅ Favourable 35% (-3) ❌ Unfavourable 56% (+4) Via YouGov, 27-28 Aug (+/- vs 13-14 Aug)

The GE delivered an anti-Tory result. There was little enthusiasm for Labour. They've won a huge majority on a relatively small vote % And yet the Labour leadership's instinct is to embrace Tory austerity (despite swearing they wouldn't) & hammer pensioners. Cynical & depressing.

Housing Minister Paul McLennan - MSP for East Lothian spoke at the launch of the Scottish Building Standards Hub, hosted by Fife Council. The Hub will strengthen the building standards system in Scotland by improving the quality of building standards services. Read more ➡️ sbsh.scot

"Read my lips - Labour austerity is as damaging as Tory austerity when it comes to public service cuts." Labour hypocrisy on austerity destroyed by Scotland's Finance Secretary Shona Robison MSP

The Bank of Scotland team were delighted to welcome many visitors to our marketplace over the weekend at #SNP24, including First Minister John Swinney, Paul McLennan - MSP for East Lothian, Ivan McKee MSP and Jamie Hepburn MSP Thanks to all for stopping by! Bank of Scotland Business

🚨 Labour's cuts agenda will have a huge impact on Scotland's finances. 🥀 Labour austerity is just as damaging as Tory austerity.

“All roads lead back to Westminster” - 19th May 2024. Labour’s now Health Secretary, Wes Streeting

I demanded an end to austerity during the election but it continues under Labour. Shona Robison MSP set out the steps Scottish Government must take to deal with inflation and other budget pressures. We will act to protect people’s priorities and will balance the budget as we always have.

Which of today’s changes do you disagree with, Anas? How would you have made up for the shortfall? By introducing the private sector into our NHS as planned by Wes Streeting? By scrapping free tuition? An unserious party for serious times.

The SNP ended it years back.

Please see my previous retweet. This is a Westminster created budget black hole. We have no choice in Scotland but to follow the disaster that is UK. After #independence we can lame whichever government is in charge.

I believed Starmer and Reeves were too smart to repeat austerity. It appears I was wrong | David Blanchflower theguardian.com/commentisfree/…

Column: the same Labour politicians who oppose any kind of additional powers for Scotland also rush to blame Holyrood for every challenge. Their denial of the impact of Westminster austerity on Scotland’s public spending is pure Trumpian gaslighting glasgowtimes.co.uk/news/24560195.…

When Labour said they represented change, no one thought change would mean less support for our pensioners. Keir Starmer wasn't kidding when he said things would get worse. Why should Scotland have to suffer because of austerity-obsessed Westminster governments?