25/11/2009

Midlothian Labour challenged over rail threat comments

SNP MSP Christine Grahame has called on Labour’s Midlothian politicians to “come clean” after the Labour Leader of Glasgow City Council, Stephen Purcell, suggested that the cancelled Glasgow Airport Rail Link (GARL) project would bring more benefits than plans to reinstate the Waverley Rail Link through Midlothian and onwards top the Scottish Borders. Ms Grahame claimed that almost 1000 local jobs were being put at risk by continued pressure from Glasgow Labour politicians who want to scrap the Waverly project and divert the money towards Glasgow. Ms Grahame said:

“Labour in Midlothian have suddenly gone very quiet over support for the Waverly Rail Link and the benefits in terms of jobs and investment this will bring to the region following the concerted efforts by Glasgow Labour politicians to sacrifice it to save their pet airport rail link project.

“Midlothian Labour need to come clean in light of comments by the Leader of Glasgow City Council, Stephen Purcell, who is actively seeking to undermine the commitment by the Scottish Government to reinstating the Waverley railway. They also need to have a quiet word with Mr Purcell and remind him of the huge benefits in terms of jobs and investment the Waverley railway will bring to Midlothian and the Scottish Borders.

“If left to their own devices Glasgow dominated Labour would continue to prioritise pet projects at the cost of cutting other projects and services in the rest of Scotland. The time has come for Midlothian Labour politicians to stand up and demonstrate they won’t be bullied by their more dominant Glasgow colleagues.

“The Waverley project will create 360 jobs during the construction phase and an estimated 550 new jobs in the first 5 years after completion, which is more than would be created if Labour got their way and pursued the GARL project instead. Midlothian and the Scottish Borders simply cannot afford to lose those jobs in the current economic climate, which has resulted directly from the financial turmoil that Labour created in the first place.”

SNP It’s time.....