RACHEL Reeves’s push for growth which pledges investment across England leaves Scotland in the lurch, the SNP have said.
The Chancellor won praise from right-wing think tanks and even had some measures welcomed by the Tories for a speech on Wednesday promising a bonfire of regulations in a bid to revive the UK’s stuttering economy.
Reeves also announced major new investment plans, including proposals to realise the economic potential of the Oxford and Cambridge corridor, a third runway at Heathrow and renovations for Manchester United’s stadium.
While her speech contained passing references to Scotland – including her hailing an existing funding deal for Glasgow and the economic benefits that expanding Heathrow would likely have for Scottish exports – critics said it contained “nothing for Scotland”, pointing out the “lack of announcements or investment beyond the south of England”.
Stephen Flynn, the SNP’s leader in Westminster, posted a meme on Twitter/X intended to show Scotland being left out, while highlighting the Government’s promises for English cities.
A runway for London. A football stadium for Manchester. A science corridor for Oxford and Cambridge. Scotland pic.twitter.com/C1xA8Dm8Xz
— Stephen Flynn MP (@StephenFlynnSNP) January 29, 2025
Dave Doogan (below), the SNP’s economy spokesperson, added: “This speech offered nothing for Scotland and, instead of delivering vital investment, the Labour government has cut £800 million of supercomputer funding from Edinburgh, failed to deliver the £1 billion of carbon capture funding Scotland was promised, failed to provide HS2 investment to Scotland and failed to restore millions of pounds in lost EU funding for Scotland’s communities.”
The Angus and Perthshire Glens MP said that Labour were the “biggest roadblock to economic growth”, adding: “Instead of fixing broken Brexit Britain, Rachel Reeves has taken the UK economy in the wrong direction with business confidence falling, job losses and unemployment rising, borrowing costs soaring and high-street shops warning they will be forced to put their prices up after the Labour Party’s bungled Budget.
“The growing warnings of UK stagflation – with sluggish growth, job losses and rising prices – are a direct result of damaging Labour government policies, including the National Insurance tax hike and the decision to stay out of the EU single market, which is costing Scotland billions of pounds in lost trade, investment and economic growth every year.”
He claimed the Chancellor had “lost control” and, in a nod to recent speculation she could be for the chop given the economic turbulence which has plagued Labour since coming to power, was “now in panic mode, trying to shore up her own position”.
