UK government must rule out Scottish spending cuts 

With unemployment expected to soar in excess of two million when the Office of National Statistics publishes its latest data tomorrow (Wednesday), SNP Work and Pensions Spokesperson John Mason MP said: "The painful reality of this recession is hitting home and high street across the country.

"The bad news has been relentless, and these appalling unemployment figures underline the desperate need to get a grip on the economic crisis. These stark numbers hide the real and untold hardship that individual workers face as they struggle to find new work.

"It is clear that the number of jobseekers vastly exceeds the number of jobs available. Gordon Brown can no longer claim that there are plenty of jobs available for people who are prepared to look.

"The Scottish Government is doing everything it can, and Scottish unemployment is still lower than the UK average. But the UK Government must step up their action – and they should start by ruling out planned cuts to Scottish public spending in the teeth of the recession."