The finance ministers of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have united to warn the British government that spending cuts are moving “too fast and too far”.
John Swinney, the Scottish deputy first minister, Arlene Foster, of the Northern Ireland Executive, and Jane Hutt, of the Welsh assembly, have issued a joint statement raising concerns that continuing austerity measures pose a risk to public services.
In a letter to Greg Hands, the chief secretary to the Treasury, they call for an urgent meeting in advance of the government’s forthcoming spending review.
“The three devolved administrations share the view that the UK government’s ongoing austerity plans, reflected in both the in-year spending reductions announced on June 4 and in the summer budget, continue to reduce public spending in the UK too fast and too far, and present unnecessary risks to our public services,” the letter warned.
“We also share the view that the UK government’s plans were developed and communicated in an unsatisfactory way, with neither advance notice nor apparent consideration of the implications for the devolved administrations.”
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The three ministers also raised concerns about the timing of the spending review.
“The planned announcement date of November 25 leaves very little time for setting our own budgets before the beginning of 2016-17, presenting us with significant operational challenges and potentially constraining the time available for respective parliamentary and assembly processes,” they wrote.
“There will in addition be considerable difficulties for our delivery bodies and stakeholders, who will have little notice of their future allocations.”
Mr Swinney said the British government’s austerity programme was reducing household income, damaging economic confidence and weakening public finances.
“That represents a clear threat to our public services. The recent budget was misguided and deeply unfair, with disproportionate cuts falling on the poorest and most vulnerable sections of society while giving tax breaks to the better off. The three devolved administrations agree that ongoing austerity presents unnecessary risks to our public services,” he said.