Local government spending in Scotland has been cut by over £130 per head over the last five years, new research reveals.
Commissioned by Labour, the analysis found that on average spending had been cut by £137 per head across all 32 local authorities in Scotland since 2013-14.
The research, which was carried out by the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe), found that cuts to council budgets over the last five years had cost residents in Edinburgh and Glasgow more than £200 a head.
Residents in Aberdeen are £111 a head worse off, while East Lothian (£129 per head), East Renfrewshire (£133) and Stirling (£148) have also been hit by austerity measures.
‘These figures show the price of SNP austerity for individuals across Scotland,’ said Scottish Labour’s finance spokesperson James Kelly MSP.
‘The SNP has slashed funding for lifeline services in recent years – and that translates as more than £200 a head since 2013-14 for people in Edinburgh and Glasgow.
‘It means residents in places such as Aberdeen, East Lothian and Stirling have lost more than £100 of spending per head over the last five years.’
‘That is simply shocking,’ he added.
