Scottish Labour Leader Iain Gray has accused the SNP government of running out of steam after three wasted years in power.
 
A stopgap legislative programme for 2010/11 has been unveiled by Labour in opposition and it tackles important issues such as domestic abuse, violence at work and unemployment (see attached document).
 
Scottish Labour Leader Iain Gray said:
 
"It is clear that Alex Salmond and his cabinet have already run out of steam after three wasted years in power.
 
"Our parliament has spent much of the last year discussing fringe concerns and dealing with the lightest legislative agenda since Labour created the Scottish Parliament.
 
"In opposition, Labour has brought forward bills that would, if introduced, give greater protection to the victims of crime, help women to escape the scourge of domestic abuse, make our tenements better places to live, improve safety and rights in the workplace, improve our public transport and give our young people the right to an apprenticeship.
 
"Under the SNP, nurses and teachers have been cut and fewer criminals get sent to jail. Despite having the biggest budget in Scottish history, they have squandered £1.5billion of savings Labour left them in the bank for the hard times ahead. Alex Salmond's referendum bill has been kicked into the long grass and his plan to introduce a Local Income Tax has been dumped.
 
"It is clear the SNP are out of ideas and their failure to deliver for the people of Scotland shows that they are ineffective in government. Scotland deserves better."

11 July 2010