THE Tories have been accused of facilitating a “blatant power grab” after Douglas Ross claimed a vote for his party would give Scottish councils the “best shot” at getting more UK Government cash.
Ross said Tory local election candidates will put in “every possible bid” for Levelling Up and Community Renewal funds from Westminster.
But the SNP have branded the pledge as an attack on devolution and claim the party’s council hopefuls are more interested in “falling into line behind their Westminster bosses” than standing up for communities.
Green MSP Maggie Chapman said it was an attempt to "bribe" people into voting Tory.
"This is also a blatant attempt to undermine Scottish democracy," she added.
Ross said: “More direct UK Government investment in Scotland can only be a good thing.
“The SNP can shout about power grabs all they like but what’s really important is the money reaches Scotland’s communities, not which government is spending it.”
The Tories added that £190 million of cash has gone to Scotland from the funds, with £172m coming from bids made under the Levelling Up scheme and £18m from the Community Renewal Fund, with areas including Aberdeen, Falkirk, and Dumfries benefiting.
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But Mhairi Black, the SNP’s shadow Scotland spokesperson, said this was “smoke and mirrors” and the Tory government was actually short-changing Scots.
She pointed to the fact Boris Johnson and Michael Gove promised £1.5 billion a year for Scottish devolved services in Levelling Up funding as part of the Brexit campaign, but only £172m has been announced.
She added: “For every £1 they promised they’ve given 11 pence. Scotland has been short-changed by 89%.
“The Tories have form on this that goes back decades as secret 30-year papers revealed in 2016 the then Tory government had cut state aid funding in Scotland to help their seats in the south of England.
“Not only does the Tory government’s plans fall well short of what was promised post-Brexit, but it has also short-changed the city deals by failing to match Scottish Government spending – including the Aberdeen City Region deal benefiting from £379m of investment from the Scottish Government, while the UK government has only committed to just £125m.
“Meanwhile, in the Borderlands region – which covers the Scottish Borders and Dumfries and Galloway – the Scottish Government invested £85m, with the UK government allocating £20m less.
“This Westminster Tory government has presided over a series of power grabs and attacks on devolution.
“It’s clear rather than standing up for Scotland’s communities, the Tories are more interested in falling into line behind their Westminster bosses.
“The elections on May 5 are an opportunity to cast a vote for SNP councillors who will work tirelessly for communities, and to cast a verdict on Tory government’s dire record and blatant power grab moves.
“Westminster control means, cuts not cash.”
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Ross claimed some SNP-run councils “didn’t even bother to apply for these funds” but added “many nationalist-run administrations ignored the SNP Government’s rhetoric and submitted applications”.
Chapman said: "The electorate will see this for what it is - an attempt to bribe them to vote Tory.
"We've had 12 years of Tory austerity and mismanagement, resulting in a cost of living crisis, an energy crisis, a food crisis, a nature crisis and a climate crisis. 3.9 million children live in poverty in the UK. But instead of helping people the Tories put out a press release saying they're going to build a roundabout.
“If this is what Tories have to offer people it's no surprise they've been rejected by Scottish voters for 70 years. Scotland needs investment that will build communities alongside the industries and jobs of the future, and that's what Scottish Greens will focus on delivering."
The £4.8bn Levelling Up fund was created by the UK Government to invest in infrastructure that improves daily life, such as town-centre regeneration.
Meanwhile, the £220m Community Renewal Fund aims to support people and communities most in need and will be used to pilot programmes to prepare for the £2.6bn UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
A total of £20m went to the Aberdeen City Centre Masterplan and Westfield roundabout in Falkirk respectively from the Levelling Up fund while £13m went towards the Pollok Stables and Sawmill in Glasgow.
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