Labour’s persistent failure to address its electorate’s salient concerns is behind the protest vote, asserts DIANE ABBOTT
A cynical attempt to scapegoat workers
		We utterly reject the Scottish government’s pretence that wage claims in public services are the reason for savage spending cuts — raise taxes to pay workers better for better services, writes COLETTE HUNTER, of Unison Scotland
	 
			CUTS to public services — and we had £500 million worth announced this week — are the fault of the workers who provide the services. That at least is the view of the Scottish government.
It put this “necessity” down to a number of causes, but high up in the mix were pay claims from workers in public services, particularly council workers.
As excuses go this one is more lame than most. It’s politicians who set budgets and make plans, not council staff. It’s a bit rich turning around and blaming a lack of free school meals on the women who cook them.
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               With the Scottish government’s Budget day coming up in early December, BRENDA AITCHISON presses for public services to be properly funded at last after years of neglect and austerity
   
 
               


 
               