LABOUR and the SNP have both slammed the Budget – blasting the Conservatives for continuing with an austerity agenda.

North Ayrshire SNP say the Budget will pile further misery on those who are already struggling, with Labour calling on the SNP Government to offer an alternative.

SNP Group Leader Marie Burns said: “It’s shameful the way the Tories have tried to spin this as a good Budget for Scotland.

“In real terms the Tories have cut Scotland’s block grant by over £200 million.

“Some parts of North Ayrshire are among the most disadvantaged in the UK so folk here are struggling to get by as it is.

“The Budget means that all they are in for is more Tory austerity. “The Brexit disaster will only compound their problems.

“To add insult to injury we are witnessing the failed Universal Credit being rolled out. We know that this will bring more child poverty and hardship”.

Labour Group leader Joe Cullinane said: “Seven years ago the Tories inherited a growing economy thanks to Labour’s economic stimulus after the banking crisis. Seven years on, the Tories have missed every fiscal target they set on debt and the deficit, wages are down and economic growth has been downgraded again due to their austerity agenda.

“Last week’s budget does nothing to address these failures. All it will lead to is more austerity and more pain for families across North Ayrshire. “It is now over to the SNP Government.

“Will they continue to pass on Tory cuts or will they finally use the powers of the Scottish Parliament to end austerity?

“Even when their budget has increased in cash terms, like last year when it increased by over £400m, the SNP Government have chosen to cut council budgets by hundreds of millions of pounds. ”

But Councillor Burns added: “If Scottish Labour genuinely wants a fresh start, stop blaming the SNP and start targeting the Tories for the lives that are being destroyed.”