MP for Glasgow East and SNP Work and Pensions Spokesperson, John Mason, has said that despite the Prime Minister's eve-of-conference job claims, this week's Budget still delivered a cruel blow to the Scottish recovery.

Commenting, Mr Mason said: "The Prime Minister's boasts of job creation ring hollow coming just 48 hours after his Government put forward a Budget which will cost 4000 jobs in Scotland.

"No wonder all faith in the Labour party has now vanished. From illegal wars to cash for access, from cash for peerages to dragging the country's economy down then claiming otherwise - nobody can believe a word Labour politicians say anymore.

"Indeed, Labour MSPs have been trying to claim that this is a good Budget for Scotland. They make this assertion despite analysis showing the budget cuts in Scotland are three times bigger than that in the UK, Alistair Darling's own admission that Labour's cuts will be deeper than Margaret Thatcher's and a warning from the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) of 25% cuts in government departments from 2011.

"If Labour were committed to investing in Scottish recovery and supporting the Scottish renewables sector, they would unlock the £200m fossil fuel levy which is currently languishing in a Treasury bank account when it could be kick starting a programme of renewables infrastructure investment.

"While Labour are trying to spin their way out a devastating Budget for Scotland, it is the SNP who are investing in recovery and championing the causes which matter to local people. Our message is simple: more Nats, less cuts."