Local Labour leaders have renewed their call for the SNP Scottish Government to deliver fair funding for East Lothian’s services and communities.
Analysis conducted by Scottish Labour last year found that the SNP government had cut a cumulative total of £7.8 billion from core Council budgets across Scotland between 2013-14 and 2025-26, including an eye-watering £49.7 million from East Lothian Council.
Scottish Labour has said these cuts have pushed councils to breaking point and left Scots paying the price for SNP failure with worsening services and less support for communities.
Now Douglas Alexander MP and Cllr Norman Hampshire have renewed their call for the Scottish Government to recognise the rapid growth the county is experiencing and deliver fair funding for East Lothian.
Commenting, Douglas Alexander MP said:
“The SNP Scottish Government has short-changed Scotland’s Councils year after year since 2013-14, raiding £50 million from East Lothian Council alone.
“These austerity cuts have pushed Councils across Scotland to breaking point, forcing them to make impossible choices to protect key services.
“The Labour UK Government took immediate action to end the era of Tory austerity, with record devolution funding having been delivered in successive UK budgets.
“Now it’s time for the SNP Government to pass these extra resources on and finally deliver fair funding for East Lothian’s vital services.”
Cllr Norman Hampshire, Labour leader of East Lothian Council, said:
“More than a decade of SNP cuts to our core funding and multiple under-funded council tax freezes have left councils across Scotland in dire financial circumstances.
“East Lothian has been one of the hardest hit authorities. But, at the same time as they’ve cut our funding, the SNP Government has asked us to support the delivery of unprecedented growth.
“We’ve always done our utmost to protect lifeline services, continue supporting communities and help boost the economy. However, this becomes more difficult every year.
“The SNP Government must finally recognise the significant growth we have here and deliver fair funding to ensure we can maintain services and properly support communities.”