According to a new report by the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS), the Scottish government’s funding per person is more than 30 percent higher than in England. The research institute claimed it is “almost entirely due to its UK Government funding” and said the gap has grown over the last 10 years.
Following the report, Murdo Fraser, Scottish Conservative candidate for Perthshire North has hit out at Nicola Sturgeon’s plans for an independent Scotland.
He tweeted: “If you wonder where the money comes from for SNP election promises, here is the answer from the independent IFS.
“It’s the taxpayers in the rest of the UK.
“That’s the UK that the SNP want us to leave.
“You couldn’t make it up!”
Throughout the coronavirus pandemic, Ms Sturgeon has continued to call for a second independence referendum after the Holyrood election next month.
But the First Minister has been widely criticised for focusing on independence rather than Scotland’s recovery from the pandemic.
Yesterday, polling expert Sir John Curtice warned that while the SNP had secured extra support for independence through Ms Sturgeon’s handling of the pandemic, those voters have now abandoned the party.
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Last night, Scottish party leaders took part in a TV debate to kick-start the election campaign.
Going head-to-head was Ms Sturgeon (SNP), Douglas Ross (Scottish Conservatives), Anas Sarwar (Scottish Labour), Lorna Slater (Scottish Greens), Willie Rennie (Scottish Liberal Democrats).
While taking questions from audience members, Ms Sturgeon was criticised for prioritising independence over the pandemic.
Responding to a question, Ms Sturgeon said: “People have seen me literally every single day lead the country’s fight against Covid and I will continue to do that for every single day that is required.
“But as we come out of this crisis and focus on recovery, the country you are trying to rebuild depends on the decisions Government takes.
“As long as decisions lie in the hands of Boris Johnson and many at Westminster, the danger is we taker the wrong decisions, just as we have been dragged out of the EU against our will.
“Every day, my focus is now on Covid. Part of our economic recovery has to be tackling poverty.”
However, Lib Dem leader Mr Rennie claimed Ms Sturgeon’s independence plans were “long and divisive”.
Scotland will go to the polls on May 6.
