Sturgeon criticises Westminster spending cuts
In her first major speech since the general election, Scotland’s first minister Nicola Sturgeon attacked the “scale and speed” of government spending cuts.
Sturgeon also pledged that the Scottish government will campaign for the UK to stay in the European Union.
Addressing business leaders in Edinburgh ahead of the Queen’s speech later this week, Sturgeon said that the proposed cuts could hurt the economic recovery and make it harder to reduce the deficit.
“We will continue to oppose spending reductions of the scale and speed that the UK government has suggested. We believe these will slow economic recovery and make deficit reduction more difficult and that’s something that has been demonstrated already by the impact of the cuts that have been imposed since 2010,” she said.
“During the run-up to the referendum the Scottish government will of course make a strong and positive case for staying in the European Union.”
Sturgeon said the UK should only exit the EU if there was a majority in favour in all four nations of the UK.
“We will propose a double majority, meaning that exit from the European Union would only be possible if all four nations of the UK agree to that, something that would ensure Scotland couldn’t be forced out of the European Union against our will,” Sturgeon explained.
The first minister also said she would continue to push for greater powers for Scotland.