Skip to main content
Donate to the 95 years appeal
Swinney accuses Labour and Tories of ‘concealing’ cuts
First Minister John Swinney delivers a speech in Glasgow, while on the general election campaign trail, June 7, 2024

SNP leader John Swinney has accused Labour and Tory parties of “concealing” cuts plans amid a “conspiracy of silence” on economic policy.

The First Minister, who presided over swingeing cuts to public service budgets leading to more than 20,000 jobs lost from Scotland’s public sector during his nine-year tenure as finance secretary, used a campaign speech in Glasgow today to take aim at the spending plans of both parties.

Referring to a recent report by the economic think tank the Institute for Fiscal Studies, which not only claimed that Labour and Tory spending plans could lead to “sharp” cuts after the election, but argued the parties were “avoiding the reality” of the situation, Mr Swinney said the economy would be the “defining issue of the election.”

The 95th Anniversary Appeal
Support the Morning Star
You have reached the free limit.
Subscribe to continue reading.
More from this author
Wrightbus' electric double decker bus at the Wrightbus' Ballymena factory, Northern Ireland
Industry / 24 July 2025
24 July 2025
General view of the Alexander Dennis site at Camelon, near Falkirk
Scotland / 10 July 2025
10 July 2025
Scotland / 10 July 2025
10 July 2025