SCOTTISH Labour leader Jim Murphy has blasted Nicola Sturgeon over comments that SNP MPs could vote for full fiscal autonomy for Scotland as early at next year.

 

Mr Murphy said the First Minster had made a "stupid strategic error" when she said in a TV debate she wanted Holyrood to have full control over tax and spending north of the border.

The Labour leader said he would "absolutely not" back the change during a campaign visit to Cumbernauld yesterday.

He said his party would fight for the Barnett formula, which determines how public cash is distributed across the UK, to stay.

Mr Murphy said: "What we saw last night in the debate was Scotland's First Minister admitting under her plans Scotland would be £7.6 billion worse off - it's full fiscal austerity.

"We will oppose Tory austerity by the front door and we will also oppose the SNP's austerity by the back door.

"We will keep the Barnett formula today, tomorrow, forever."

Mr Murphy added: "There's no way on earth we will vote for full fiscal austerity, or full fiscal autonomy.

"It's more than £7 billion of cuts for Scotland.

"Why would anybody who loves our country want to cut that

£7 billion?"

He also argued that changing the way services in Scotland are funded would mean the end of the UK pensions and benefits system north of the border.

"If the SNP have their way, you would have the abolition of the UK state pension here in Scotland and the abolition of UK benefits," he claimed.

"Full fiscal autonomy was always a nice-sounding advertising slogan in search of a policy - well, it's found a policy now and it's £7.6 billion of cuts and the end of the UK pension system.

"Between now and polling day, no one is going to be left in any doubt that if you vote for the SNP, you are voting to opt out of the UK state pension system. That is awful news for Scottish pensioners."

He insisted only Labour could prevent Conservative prime minister David Cameron winning a second term in office but added: "In this race, David Cameron can't win seats in Scotland, he has to have someone to win seats for him.

"In this contest he's hoping the SNP can defeat Labour in Scotland and that it propels David Cameron back into Downing Street.

"I'm confident after these debates that we have a spring in our step, we have the arguments on our side, we have the truth on our side, and we're the party with momentum and self-belief."