Nicola Sturgeon accused of ‘systematically eroding resources' by Tory in scathing attack

The Tory said during First Minister's Questions that the SNP's handling of local councils was "having a detrimental effect on their finances" and leaving resources depleted. The SNP leader

hit back arguing that the reason local authorities were under pressure was due to the Conservative Party's austerity policies. 

Mr Stewart said: "The recent reports from the accounts commission state that councils face increasing challenges in meeting changing and growing demands for services.

"Council income is straining to keep pace at a 7.6 percent decline in real terms since 2013/14.

"The Scottish government is pilling on additional pressure to councils through priorities in education and home care.

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"First Minister your government has been in charge for 12 years and during that time you have systematically depleted resources which were a lifeline to local authorities.

"So when will you take responsible to provide councils with the necessary funds they deserve to support the communities that they represent."

Ms Sturgeon fired back: "Local authorities are working under real pressure.

"That is because of the austerity that is imposed on this government by Alexander’s party."

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Earlier today in the House of Commons Conservative MP Sir John Hayes labelled SNP's Joanna Cherry a "bourgeois liberal" in a fierce Brexit debate.

Sir John Hayes was criticising Remainer MPs' approach to Brexit when Ms Cherry asked him to give way, he initially refused before later firing a dig at the SNP MP as he gave way to her.

The Conservative MP said regarding Remainers: "They came to regard it as desirable to inroad the familiar touchstones of enduring certainty."

The MP for Edinburgh South West then asked the Conservative to give way, he replied: "I won’t quite at the moment but perhaps a little bit later.

"I know the honourable lady will want me to repeat that poetic phrase, the familiar touchstones of enduring certainty."

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"This is epitomised by a spirit of local allegiance and a sense of national pride.

"The truth is that the bourgeois liberals and at that point, I can give way to the honourable lady."

Ms Cherry hit back: "Well I am not going to deny that I am a bourgeois liberal.

"Many people in Scotland that are not bourgeois liberals voted to remain in the European Union."

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