Commenting on remarks by Labour’s Lord Adonis in the Glasgow North East by-election where he flatly denied that Labour was cutting public spending despite all the facts showing their government in London is – including this week’s Audit Scotland report – Glasgow SNP MSP Anne McLaughlin said his remarks just underlined the levels of deceit and smears Labour were prepared to make in the campaign.

Commenting Ms McLaughlin said: "Trying to deny that the London Labour government is to cutting Scottish public spending on the day that an Audit Scotland report confirms it is astonishing. Does he think the voters of Glasgow are stupid and will believe his ‘fiscal fantasy land’?

“By denying what everyone knows he is showing contempt for the intelligence of Glasgow’s voters. Everyone from Audit Scotland to the Institute for Fiscal Studies to Professor David Bell – standing adviser to the Scottish Parliament’s Finance Committee – has confirmed these cuts emanating from Labour’s London government.

“Instead we have Labour and the rest of the opposition making ridiculous spending demands they know that can’t be met.

“This deceit has been a hallmark of Labour’s campaign in Glasgow North East along with their smears. Labour had 74 years to make a difference in Glasgow North East and nothing has changed. It is only the SNP which is offering an alternative and positive vision of what can be done.

Notes:

1. The Scottish Government’s response to the Audit Scotland report with links to the Audit Scotland website can be accessed here.

2. The findings of the Institute for Fiscal Studies can be read on Channel 4’s FactCheck.

3. The report by Professor David Bell, University of Stirling to the Scottish Parliament's Finance Committee (September 2009) on cuts to the Scottish budget is available here.