THE Chancellor spent a large part of his Budget crowing about how much better the country’s accounts now look. He painted a picture of debt falling, the deficit in decline and the public finances recovering fast.

He even boasted about the budget soon being in surplus.

What he didn’t explain is why, despite his claims, he still wants to hammer Scotland’s public services with more cuts.

Those claims are an admission there is room for spending to protect schools and hospitals. But he planned a massive £30 billion of cuts before the Budget and he is still planning those cuts.

Shamefully, that is the same £30bn of unfair cuts Labour signed up to. What that means for Scotland is another £12bn of cumulative cuts over the next four years.

But First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has outlined a sustainable, credible alternative and has figures to back it up.

This alternative, the Treasury said last week, would see the deficit and debt fall each year.

By striking a fair balance, we can invest to protect our public services, freeing up to an extra £180bn to spend across the UK, £14bn of it for Scotland.

The cuts are not just hitting public services. They also hit the economy.

By investing we can also boost the economy, support jobs and get Scotland growing faster.

More people in work means more people paying tax, helping the public finances. The Chancellor’s plan fails to do any of this.

One plan the Chancellor did adopt in large part was the Scottish Government’s to help the oil and gas sector.

Though long overdue it was still welcome, but it was a frank admission by the UK Government that they have monumentally mismanaged Scotland’s precious resources.

The Chancellor’s last Budget before the General Election could and should have boosted economic growth and tackled inequality.

But he has chosen – boasted of – cuts far beyond what is needed.

That tells you everything you need to know about the values and priorities of this Conservative Chancellor.

With Labour and the Liberal Democrats signed up to the same £30bn of cuts, it also tells you everything you need to know about Westminster.