McConnell: Yes camp NHS cuts warning a ‘big huge lie’

Jack McConnell has accused the SNP of peddling a “big huge lie” on the NHS.

In a speech yesterday, he urged the nationalists to withdraw claims that the health service would be under threat if there was a No vote in next month’s independence referendum.

The former First Minister said: “The idea that Home Rule inside the UK threatens the Scottish NHS is a lie. A big huge lie.

“It is a diversion, a desperate tactic.”

Under the Barnett Formula, spending cuts at Westminster have a knock-on effect on the Scottish budget.

The Coalition ring-fenced the NHS budget until 2015 but further cuts are expected whoever wins next year’s General Election.

However, Mr McConnell said he expected the formula to “wither on the vine” in the years after the referendum as more tax-raising powers were devolved to Scotland.

Meanwhile, Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said yesterday Scotland would “sleepwalk” into further spending cuts in the event of a No vote.

She said: “Scotland’s budget has already been subject to Westminster cuts and now Labour shadow health secretary Andy Burnham has said the NHS south of the Border will be pushed ‘off the cliff edge’ by Tory privatisation and cuts.

“Labour in Scotland must listen to the warnings from their colleagues south of the Border the NHS is under threat from Westminster cuts and we must take action now to ensure we can continue to protect it.

“The No parties’ denial of the risks we are facing would see us sleepwalking into cuts in the event of a No vote.”