FIVE years of Conservative cuts has led to more poverty and people dependent on food banks Nicola Sturgeon said.

 

The First Minister was campaigning at New Lanark, where Robert Owen pioneer of the cooperative movement established a community for his mill workers.

She said the Tories had presided over child poverty and devastated communities across the country and warned of more to come.

Ms Sturgeon said: "We already know that the Tories are intent on balancing the books on the backs of the poor, with £12bn of cuts to spending in Scotland planned over the next five years - which is equivalent to some £2,300 per person.

"David Cameron needs to tell us exactly where his axe is going to fall. The relentless Tory attack on the poor simply has to stop - and the SNP is the only party with the backbone and a plan to take a genuine new direction."

She walked the streets and toured the visitor centre at New Lanark where in the early 19th century Owen provided better living and working conditions and set up schools for workers' children.

Mr Sturgeon said: "People in Scotland have always known to expect harsh, ideological cuts from the Tories and today's cuts manifesto is likely to be more of the same. But that Labour have been so quick to meekly fall into line with George Osborne's plans just goes to show how far they have moved away from their roots."