Budget will rescue economy

May 15 2009

I AM outraged at Dougie Reid’s comments on Alistair Darling’s budget (Kilmarnock Standard, May 1).

His unsubstantiated claims simply cannot go unchallenged.

Labour has produced a budget to rescue Britain from the worst recession since the 1930s. That’s the fact.

While Labour recognises the suffering the credit crunch is causing ordinary people, the SNP are rejoicing it in because they think they can exploit this difficult economic situation to their own political advantage.

And don’t forget, the SNP urge us to adopt the economic policies of Ireland, Iceland and Norway – all in a much worse situation now that Britain.

Let’s focus for a moment on the SNP’s record. They have broken all of the promises they put on billboards and posters across Scotland as they desperately sought election.

Of their five main promises – help for students, help for first time buyers, smaller class sizes, matching our school building plans and abolishing council tax – all have been broken by their own admission.

Yet last week they were claiming to have met all that they promised they would do – patting themselves on the back.

They prefer to congratulate themselves than actually help Scots through the recession.

I repeat my challenge to Dougie to face me in public debate on these issues. Any place, any time. Then we’ll see whose policies really are best for East Ayrshire.

–Des Browne, MP, Kilmarnock and Loudoun.