Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay has said Reform’s plan to scrap the Union dividend would “take a wrecking ball” to Scotland’s public services.
Today Reform leader Nigel Farage criticised the £50 billion that comes to Scotland as part of the Union dividend and said he would scrap the Barnett formula which delivers it.
The Reform leader said the Barnett formula is “really somewhat out of date” and “should be looked at again”.
Farage also suggested that the £50 billion a year that comes to Scotland as a result of the Union dividend should be reduced.
The Scottish Conservatives said Reform’s plan to scrap the Union dividend would reduce funding for Scotland’s NHS, schools, roads and essential public services.
Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay said: “The Union dividend is worth thousands of pounds each year to every person in Scotland.
“Nigel Farage’s reckless proposal would slash funding for our NHS, schools, roads and many other essential public services.
“Reform’s hare-brained suggestion of ripping up the Barnett formula is irresponsible. It would take a wrecking ball to our public services and cause misery for Scottish families, workers and businesses.
“The SNP must be delighted by Farage’s latest idea because the only people in Scotland who would benefit from scrapping the Union dividend are nationalists.
“If Farage knew or cared anything about Scotland, he would know that such a reckless move would increase support for the SNP and independence.
“I want the SNP to spend taxpayers’ money far more carefully, but Scotland still needs the extra funding from the Union dividend to deliver effective frontline services.
“Our public services are a complete mess after 18 years of SNP Government. Schools and hospitals need smart investment, not the savage cuts that would be the consequence of Reform’s plan.
“Nigel Farage needs his head examined if he thinks scrapping the Union dividend is sensible.”
Notes
Transcript of Nigel Farage’s quotes:
Nigel Farage: “The Barnett formula it seems to me is really somewhat out of date. What I’d like to see is a Scottish government that’s able to raise a bit more of its own revenue and a Scottish economy that has actually got genuine growth and I don’t believe that can happen without this sector booming.
“All right. And I think, you know, the Barnett formula goes back to the 1970s. Is there an argument that it should be looked at again? Of course, there is. But I mean, frankly, frankly, if you look at welfare dependency, if you look at educational standards, the idea, the 50 billion this year, roughly what the figure is going to be, going to Scotland. It isn’t going to reduce in the short term until Scotland actually starts to have an economy that is thriving and right now it’s going in completely the wrong direction.”