Fair share

February 8th, 2010

After months of scrutiny and deliberations, Scotland’s budget has finally been agreed this week by the parliament.

I am sure everyone would agree that £35 billion is a lot of money and it is important that we get our priorities right and get real value for the people of Scotland.

I think if you want to get an idea of a government’s priorities, simply follow the money and it didn’t seem to be coming our way.

While they will they be pleased in the north of Scotland about the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route, in the Borders about the planned rail link and in Edinburgh about the trams project and Forth Road Bridge, none of those projects will bring any direct benefit to the people in our area.

The Glasgow Airport Rail Link on the other hand would have, with the jobs it brings, the boost to the business community and the future success of the airport.

We also heard this week about £270 million worth of cuts to local authorities, putting severe pressure on jobs and services, a situation confirmed by my own committee in its report, which pointed out that small local authorities like Inverclyde are likely to be hit the hardest

That is why I held out for a better deal and couldn’t back the SNP government’s budget.

As the elected representative for Greenock and Inverclyde, it is my job to fight for our fair share of government funding and I don’t think we got that.

The budget passed through this week to cheers from the SNP and Tory benches in Holyrood.

But there will be no celebrations in Inverclyde and the West of Scotland.