The Scottish National Party (SNP) has warned that UK Government plans to slash Public Service jobs down to levels that existed before Brexit could hit Scotland the hardest.
Deputy Leader of the SNP at Westminster, Kirsten Oswald has branded the proposals to cut up to 90,000 jobs as “detached from reality”.
“As families and households up and down the country are terrified to open their bills and face soaring energy and shopping prices, threatening a fifth of Civil Service staff with the sack is shameful,” Ms Oswald said.
“Figures show the percentage of job cuts in reserved Departments in Scotland has almost been double that of the rest of the UK, so Scotland has already paid the price of Westminster Government job cuts,” he said.
However, Edinburgh-based financier and Minister for the Scotland Office, Malcolm Offord defended the cuts, saying the sacked Public Servants could find jobs in farming and fishing.
“These people have got good skills and will find work,” Lord Offord (pictured) said.
“I’m not belittling in any way the concept of losing a job, no one wants to be put out of work at all, but we are building a high-skilled, high-wage economy, and those people who have got good skills will find work.”
Members of the Conservative Party in the Scottish Parliament have called on the SNP-led Government to follow the United Kingdom’s lead and axe Public Service jobs.
Currently, the devolved administration employs 22,200 Public Servants, up by 1,100 on the previous year.
Edinburgh, 17 May 2022
