22/09/2009

Lib Dems challenged to stop spreading “baseless fear” over Borders railway

The Liberal Democrats are risking investment, housing and jobs in the region by spreading “baseless fear” over the future of the Borders railway. That is the view of SNP MSP Christine Grahame who responded to suggestions by Lib Dem Finance spokesman Jeremy Purvis who claimed the project was still under threat. Ms Grahame said:

“The only threat to the project will come if the Lib Dems hold hands with their former Labour coalition partners and attempt to force through the Glasgow Airport Rail Link project which the Finance Secretary reluctantly cancelled as a direct result of funding cuts of £500m from the UK Government.

“Its ironic that the Glasgow project would not have had to be axed at all had not the Liberals and Labour forced through their plans for an unwanted, troubled and over budget tram system for Edinburgh. Their incompetent financial handling and inability to strategically plan is exactly why the Glasgow Airport Rail Link project (GARL) has had to be cancelled.

“Why Mr Purves continues to spread baseless fear over the future of the Borders rail project is beyond me. The Scottish Government and Scottish Ministers have made consistent commitments to delivering the line, a line axed by the Lib Dems’s political allies in the Labour Party.

“The only conceivable threat to the project will come if the Liberals back a proposal by Labour’s Andy Kerr to reinstate the GARL project and cancel the Borders line. The SNP Government would fiercely oppose such a move, but Mr Purves must make clear his Party’s position on this and say whether he will rejoin Labour when the budget is voted on and in-so-doing threaten the Border line.”

SNP It’s time.....