First Minister and SNP Leader has called for Labour to
follow Scotland's lead by bringing railway services into public
ownership – and finish the job by nationalising Network Rail.
Ahead of officially opening the Levenmouth Rail Link tomorrow
(Wednesday), the First Minister has said the SNP will force
Labour to the left at Westminster – and urged them to end
austerity with a major infrastructure investment package which
will reverse cuts to Scotland's capital budget imposed by the
Tories.
The Scottish Government has brought ScotRail into public
ownership, delivered new rail lines and stations and is piloting
the removal of peak fares across the country – driving down
ticket prices and saving daily commuters hundreds of pounds per
month.
said:
“The SNP's record in government shows what is possible with a
government operating from the left of centre - we've
brought ScotRail into public ownership, invested in new
infrastructure and taken action to drive down ticket prices,
saving people hundreds of pounds during the cost of living
crisis.
“This is the approach must take in government rather
than simply continuing with Tory austerity. He should
commit to a significant infrastructure investment programme to
reverse the cuts to Scotland's capital budget and invest in the
future. And he needs to follow the SNP's lead by taking rail
services south of the border into public hands – and finish the
job by nationalising Network Rail and cross-border services.
“Keir Starmer has spent his entire career running away from
traditional left of centre values like public ownership – and
taken left wing voters for granted by lurching to the right and
adopting Tory policies.
“But we cannot afford more of the same – Westminster has
inflicted austerity, Brexit and a cost of living crisis on the
people of Scotland – and it is time for a genuine
alternative.
“The SNP will push Labour to the left and demand that they are
focused on Scotland's values – meaning they can't take Scotland
or left-leaning voters for granted.”
