By John Lamont MP
There should be no greater priorities for Scotland's politicians than supporting our NHS and investing in a brighter future for the next generation.
But funding choices in the current SNP Government budget are leaving our health and education systems without the resources they need to maintain, never mind improve, their services.
NHS Borders Chief Executive, Ralph Roberts, recently said its financial position is "unsustainable". He said the cuts required "will have an impact on the services we provide."
Borders College Principal, Pete Smith, also recently said the current Scottish Government budget "will have a significant negative impact on learners, businesses and the government’s own ambitions to grow the Scottish economy and achieve a just transition."
These statements should be a wake-up call to SNP Government ministers that the Borders needs more funding.
Our NHS is already in crisis. People cannot get GP or dentist appointments quickly. They are waiting too long for essential treatment and referrals. Our health service needs additional investment, not severe cuts.
The Borders College is also incredibly important for our local area. It provides opportunities for young people and helps businesses to grow. If the SNP allow student places to fall, that would be incredibly short-sighted.
Budgets are tight everywhere in the aftermath of Covid. But there's no excuse for the SNP allowing essential services to be reduced.
This year, Humza Yousaf's government received the biggest block grant from the UK Government. The SNP have also forced higher taxes onto Scots earning over £28,850 compared to workers in the rest of the UK. So they should have money - either from the UK Government or the pockets of taxpayers - to protect public services.
Our NHS and our education system cannot afford these cuts. They must be stopped before Borders residents suffer worse services while paying higher tax bills.
