The SNP have criticised Labour over public sector job cuts, accusing the party of offering little more than “hot air” over its promises to protect the vulnerable from the impact of local authority sackings.
Following a report that a disabled worker at Glasgow City Council had been hit by compulsory redundancy, local MSP Bill Kidd insisted the SNP was committed to guarding public services in spite of significant budget cuts imposed by Westminster.
“SNP finance secretary John Swinney is working hard with council and trade union representatives so that local authorities sign up to the Scottish government’s policy of no compulsory redundancies,” he said.
Councils across the UK have been issuing notice of lay-offs over the Christmas period and Mr Kidd questioned how much influence Labour’s Scottish leader Iain Gray had on the party at national level.
Last week, the GMB trade union hit out at local authorities for the timing of their redundancies, claiming thousands of employees were facing a miserable festive period as a result of the uncertainty.
Posted by Hayley Edwards
