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The Tory said during First Minister's Questions that the SNP's handling of local councils was "having a detrimental effect on their finances" and leaving resources
depleted. The SNP leader hit back arguing that the reason local authorities were under pressure was due to the Conservative Party's austerity policies. Mr Stewart said: "The
recent reports from the accounts commission state that councils face increasing challenges in meeting changing and growing demands for services. "Council income is straining to keep
pace at a 7.6 percent decline in real terms since 2013/14. "The Scottish government is pilling on additional pressure to councils through priorities in education and home care.
"This is having a detrimental effect on their finances. READ MORE: ‘MAASTRICHT YEARS BEFORE FARAGE’ CASH DISMANTLES SNP ANTI-BREXIT CLAIM "First Minister your government has been
in charge for 12 years and during that time you have systematically depleted resources which were a lifeline to local authorities. "So when will you take responsible to provide councils
with the necessary funds they deserve to support the communities that they represent." Ms Sturgeon fired back: "Local authorities are working under real pressure. "That is
because of the austerity that is imposed on this government by Alexander’s party." "This is epitomised by a spirit of local allegiance and a sense of national pride. "The
truth is that the bourgeois liberals and at that point, I can give way to the honourable lady." Ms Cherry hit back: "Well I am not going to deny that I am a bourgeois liberal.
"Many people in Scotland that are not bourgeois liberals voted to remain in the European Union."