Labour put elderly care 'on the table' for cuts

The SNP has today reaffirmed our commitment to continue the provision of free personal care as  Labour's unofficial spokesman for cuts - Glasgow City council leader Gordon Matheson said free personal care must be "on the table" for cuts.

Responding to Cllr Matheson's comments SNP MSP Kenneth Gibson said: "It increasingly looks like Labour has Scotland's elderly in their sights, planning to take away their services and increase their council tax.

"Labour may not value services like free personal care and concessionary travel but the SNP do and so do the Scottish people.

"With the UK Government slashing benefits to old and young it is important we protect the policies and values Scotland holds dear and that includes services like free personal care and concessionary travel."

Commenting on Cllr Matheson's role as Labour's voice on the cuts Mr Gibson added: "Gordon Matheson is clearly Labour's stalking horse when it comes to cuts and tax rises. Last week he led Labour's call for council tax to rise - a move swiftly backed by Iain Gray and Labour MSPs.  This week he is planning cuts to free personal care.

"Labour's financial mismanagement wrecked the UK finances and caused two thirds of the estimated £3.7 billion budget cuts facing Scotland over the next four years, with the Con/Lib Dem Coalition responsible for the other third.

"The SNP is proud to have properly funded free personal care for the elderly for the first time. Labour may well disagree with these polices, but the SNP will continue to protect free personal care, concessionary travel and support the priorities of the Scottish people."

Notes:

1.  In today's Scotland on Sunday Gordon Matheson says "What I am saying is that these kind of issues must be on the table.  We look at the challenges we now face and that includes universal free personal care."

2. Questionned on Newsnight Scotland on Andy Kerr refused to guarantee free personal care saying "Secondly, free personal nursing care, well bluntly I'd want to look more."