Forbes Must Apologise For Comment And Give Councils The Funds They Are Entitled To

5th May 2020

Today in the Scottish Parliament, in response to a question from Scottish Labour Local Government spokesperson Sarah Boyack, Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Kate Forbes, called COSLA's demand that councils receive the entirety of the £155m they are entitled to via Barnett Consequentials a "storm in a teacup".



Commenting, Scottish Labour Local Government spokesperson Sarah Boyack said:"Councils across Scotland are under unprecedented strain due to the pandemic and are delivering daily for those in need.

"For the Finance Secretary to term their call for the £155m they are entitled to a "storm in a teacup" smacks of arrogance and displays an almost wilful ignorance of the tremendous pressure councils are under.

“She did not acknowledge that telling local authorities to use their reserves while she decides how to allocate these consequentials will lead to uncertainty and will not help cash-strapped councils who have had to deal with years of SNP underfunding.

“ Scotland's Councils are no longer asking for the funding they need, they are demanding it."