In a debate about the UK Government’s budget in the Scottish Parliament yesterday (28th March) SNP MSP Stuart McMillan challenged both Labour and Conservative front bench spokespeople to defend their colleagues in Inverclyde Council as they propose to cut local Welfare Rights Officers.
McMillan quizzed both on the issue, only for Labour’s Ken Macintosh to refuse to back his colleagues and for the Conservative, Gavin Brown to dismiss Inverclyde before refusing to backs his colleagues. Mr. McMillan intervened on Gavin Brown only for him to state: “As long as it is not about Inverclyde.”
Speaking after the debate Mr McMillan said:
“I am not that surprised about Gavin Brown’s disregard for Inverclyde on what is a serious matter. As we know in Inverclyde, the Tories have had a blatant disregard for the community for decades and yesterday showed no sign of that disregard ceasing.
“The Tories decimated our shipbuilding and heavy industry and they have never been forgiven for it. They really won’t learn any lessons.
“As for Labour’s Ken Macintosh to refuse to answer and back his colleagues in Inverclyde Council also highlights that he was clearly embarrassed by the news. He couldn’t bring himself to back his Labour colleagues as he knows only full well that after the Welfare Reform Act and last week’s Tory/Lib Dem Budget, thousands of people in Inverclyde are going to need to Services of Welfare Rights Advisers even more so.
“In the same week that Labour refuse to back a motion against the scrapping of the 50p Tax Band, we have Labour in Inverclyde, assisted by the anti-independence Tory chums, to reduce Welfare Rights officers in Inverclyde. It begs the question what rally is the difference between these anti-independence parties?
“After this week’s actions, the answer appears to be nothing.”
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