Jack McConnell

Scotland going forward full speed - IN REVERSE

By The Basa ⋅ April 18, 2005 ⋅  Email this post ⋅  Print this post ⋅ Post a comment

Fraser Nelson, in his Scotland on Sunday column brings out some really astounding information from the Labour manifesto which was fluffed last week in Scotland.

The Labour manifesto, or Little Red Book, starts on the economy and has a large quote on page 26: “The economy has grown under every quarter in this government.” This boast is absent from the Scottish manifesto because it isn’t true. The economy contracted at various stages in 1998, 1999 and 2002 - the Executive’s main contribution being to ensure the highest business tax in the UK.

“Waiting lists are coming down” chirps England - as well they have. But in Scotland, they are rising and stand almost three weeks longer than when Labour came to power.

And teacher recruitment has allowed English Labour to boast that “graduate teacher applications are up 70%” - the figure for the Scottish manifesto is less than half, at 30%. Why should this be so?

…….the Scottish Headteachers’ Association warned two months ago that staff shortages are so bad that subjects like design, technology and drama are being scrapped for want of staff.

One final change missed by the manifesto censors: the slogan is “Britain forward, not back”. With longer hospital waits lists than even under the Thatcher years, Scottish Labour has been moving backwards, not forward.

The full column is here: Scotland - forward in going backwards

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