Nicola Sturgeon says Conservative Government will slow recovery

Measures outlined by the Conservative Government at Westminster to reduce the deficit have been condemned by Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.

The Queen’s speech tomorrow is expected to include £12bn of welfare cuts and £10bn of cuts to red tape.

In a speech to business leaders in Edinburgh today, Sturgeon said the SNP would fulfil its election promise to challenge austerity.

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“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.

She also said the party will seek further powers for Scotland, over and above those laid out in the Smith Commission.

Sturgeon’s speech at Tynecastle stadium encouraged businesses to sign up to Scotland’s Business Pledge to commit to fair work and the living wage. Heart of Midlothian Football Club have become the first business to sign up and are joined by GSK, Virgin Money, Agenor, Hymans Robertson, Strata Cleaning and LogicNow.

“Our economic strategy sets out a vision of an economy based on innovation rather than insecurity; high skills, not low wages; and enhanced productivity instead of reduced job security. We want to climb the global competitiveness rankings on quality, rather than racing to the bottom on costs,” she said.