SNP CALL FOR REAL DIALOGUE OVER LLOYDS JOB LOSSES
Commenting on the shedding of over 2100 jobs by Lloyds, including 350 in Scotland, SNP Treasury Spokesperson Stewart Hosie MP said:
“This is the inevitable consequence of decisions taken by the UK Government when they forced the shotgun merger of Lloyds and HBOS.
“Job losses are always concerning and never more so than in the teeth of a recession.
“Lloyds have said they will attempt to minimise the impact by shedding as many jobs as possible through natural wastage. This is welcome but there must be real constructive discussion with unions and across the sector, through the financial sector jobs taskforce, to assist those affected.
“Today’s job losses illustrate how seriously the economic downturn has affected the Scottish financial sector, however, I am confident Scotland has the skills and expertise to weather this economic storm.”
MP Calls on Public To Honour Armed Forces Day
Dundee East MP Stewart Hosie has called on the public to honour Armed Forces Day next weekend when activities will take place right across the UK and in Dundee and Angus to honour the outstanding contribution made to society by serving personnel and veterans of all ages.
Large celebrations are planned for Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Dundee, with each event bringing together thousands of Army, Navy and RAF personnel, veterans, and reservists, with support from cadets and Scottish military bands.
The main Dundee event will be a parade and drum head service in the city centre from 1pm – 5pm involving medal presentations, while a parade in Forfar will culminate in a medal presentation at the Forfar Town Community Gala.
The MP will be attending the Beating the Retreat event at the Victoria Dock on Friday 26th and the full day of commemorative activities in Dundee on the Saturday 27th.
Stewart Hosie said: “Our service personnel and their families, have made and continue to make huge personal sacrifices to ensure that our rights, freedoms and way of life are defended and maintained. Armed Forces Day is our chance to say ‘thank you’ for the sacrifices made on our behalf.
“Dundee has and will continue to have a strong connection to the armed forces, and I’m aware of many ex-services constituents who have already applied to get their UK Armed Forces Veterans’ lapel badges. I will take this opportunity to remind former service personnel of all the forces including volunteers and regular reserves that they can obtain commemorative lapel badges from the:
Service Personnel and Veterans Agency,
Norcross
Thornton-Cleveleys,
Lancashire,
FY5 3WP
“Armed Forces personnel serve our country in all parts of the world, often under very testing and dangerous circumstances and, regretfully, occasionally at terrible cost. The challenges they face and the roles they play are made a little bit easier when they know that their communities back home are proud of them and wish them well.
“It would be nice to have a grood showing from the public at these events.
MURPHY BLUNDERS BY TALKING DOWN SCOTTISH ECONOMY
Commenting on the spending and revenue paper published by Jim Murphy’s Scotland Office, SNP MSP Joe FitzPatrick – a member of the Scottish Parliament’s Finance Committee – said
“This is a massive blunder by Jim Murphy. It is astonishing that he is talking down the Scottish economy in the midst of recession.
“He is just repeating the same mistake that the Tories did before 1997 and which made them look anti-Scottish by talking down Scotland. It’s exactly the same tactic of talking down Scotland that they adopted in 2007 and which lost them control of Scotland.
“He also looks foolish. If he accepts these figures he is effectively saying that Labour have failed Scotland’s economy! Is Jim Murphy seriously saying the Scottish economy was worse under Labour than the Tories! It’s some blunder to trash your own party’s record in power.
“Unlike Mr Murphy’s apparent lack of faith in his country the SNP believes Scotland has what it takes to be a normal country which can not only pull through Gordon Brown’s recession but prosper when we have got through it.”
MP Raises Plight of Religious Prisoners in Iran
Dundee East MP Stewart Hosie has written to the Secretary of State for Foreign & Commonwealth Affairs raising the plight of adherents of the Bahai faith in Iran who have been persecuted for their beliefs and asking what steps the Government can and will take on the situation.
The self-declared victory of President Ahmadinejad in Iran’s presidential elections over the weekend means another four years of religious intolerance, human rights abuses and oppression.
The Dundee MP is a member of the all-party Parliamentary Friends of the Bahai’s group and met with members of the Dundee Bahai community last month who raised their concerns over seven leaders of the faith imprisoned in the notorious Evin Prison for over a year. They have recently been charged with ‘spreading corruption on Earth’ and if found guilty will suffer the death penalty.
Stewart Hosie said: “Many people are rightly extremely concerned about the human rights abuses in Iran and their imprisonment and execution of members of non-Muslim religious faiths.
“The seven Bahai leaders have been denied legal representation and are being kept in intolerable conditions.
“It is no surprise that the ordinary citizens of Iran have taken to the streets in considerable numbers at the prospect of another four years of farcical ‘democracy’, a shocking lack of personal freedom, religious discrimination and the frequent violation of human rights. The Ahmadinejad regime executes more of its own population than any nation other than China.
“I look forward to hearing from the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what the UK Government intends to do about the imprisonment of Bahai’s in Iran.”
BROWN PUTS POLITICAL SURVIVAL BEFORE ECONOMIC ACTION
SNP REDOUBLE RECOVERY ACTION WHILE STRUGGLING BROWN SHELVES PLAN
TALE OF TWO GOVERNMENTS CONTINUES TO HIGHLIGHT SCOTTISH ACTION
The contrast between the London Labour government and the SNP Scottish Government was further highlighted today with the Scottish Government setting out an updated Economic Recovery Programme a day after it was reported that the UK government’s “next steps” recovery plan – which was due for publication today – was shelved by Gordon Brown because Ministers did not have enough new ideas to produce a convincing package.
The Scottish Government’s programme sets out an updated Economic Recovery Programme so Scottish households and business can benefit from a range of measures to help them through the recession – including an extra 31 million pounds set to support new housing across Scotland.
SNP Treasury spokesperson Stewart Hosie MP said:
“Gordon Brown seems more concerned about his own political survival than the economic recovery of the country. If he and his Ministers have run out of ideas then they should look to the Scottish Government for inspiration.
“On the day that the Prime Minister has been forced to shelve his ‘next step’ plan because of a lack of ideas, the Scottish Government has stepped up its economic recovery programme with new measures and new money.
“The update to the Scottish Economic Recovery Programme builds on the many actions already underway, and comes on the same day as Scottish Development International publishes strong annual results showing the Scottish Government is pursuing the right programme to promote recovery and protect jobs in Scotland from the current downturn.
“Labour really are out of ideas and out of time. It is little wonder more than half of those questioned for a poll over the weekend said that Gordon Brown’s continued presence as prime minister is damaging the country.
“And with Labour and the Tories planning damaging spending cuts for Scotland – even as Scottish oil revenues swell the Treasury’s coffers by 30 billion pounds over the next five years – SNP success at the General Election is essential to stop the Westminster cuts and keep our economic recovery on track.”
SCOTLAND’S GOT WHAT IT TAKES TO CREATE HIGH VALUE JOBS
SNP GOVERNMENT PUSHES FORWARD WHILE LABOUR POSTPONES
SNP Treasury spokesperson, Stewart Hosie MP, has welcomed news today (Sunday) that Scottish Development International’s (SDI) promotion of Scotland as a place to do business has created more then £500 million of investment while creating and safeguarding over 4000 jobs, including almost 2000 high value jobs.
Mr Hosie trumpeted the announcement as the Scottish Government gets set to step-up its economic recovery programme to guide the economy through recession. The Scottish Government will announce its action plan as Gordon Brown’s administration postpones the publication of a “next steps: Building Britain’s Future” document – because of a lack of policies or convincing political narrative.
Mr Hosie said:
“These excellent results show the Scottish Government is pursuing the right programme to promote recovery and protect jobs in Scotland from the current downturn. It is clear that Scotland has what it takes to create high value jobs and attract new investment.
“It is also clear Scotland can capitalises on its competitive advantages and strengths, and as the Scottish Government gets set to announce the next stage its economic recovery programme there is a real opportunity to secure more jobs and ensure strong recovery at this critical time.
“The contrast between the SNP Government in Scotland and the Labour Government in London could not be more stark. As Alex Salmond announces real economic results, Gordon Brown is postponing publication of his ‘next steps’ document because of a lack of ideas.
“Labour really are out of ideas and out of time. It is little wonder more than half of those questioned for a poll in the Sunday papers said that Gordon Brown’s continued presence as Prime Minister is damaging the country.
“And with Labour and the Tories planning damaging spending cuts for Scotland – even as Scottish oil revenues swell the Treasury’s coffers by 30 billion pounds over the next five years – SNP success at the General Election is essential to stop the Westminster cuts and keep our economic recovery on track.”
BROWN BLUNDERS OVER SPENDING CUTS
DOWNING STREET DOUBLE STANDARDS ON INVESTMENT
The Prime Minister has been accused of double standards today (Wednesday) after claiming at Prime Minister’s Questions that the country faced a “choice between a government prepared to invest in the future and a Tory Party which is going to cut.”
SNP Treasury spokesperson Stewart Hosie MP rounded on the Prime Minister over his claim, point out that the Scottish Government faces a real terms cut to its Budget of £500m from 20010/11.
Mr Hosie said:
“We all know the Tories plan spending cuts, but it is a bit rich for Gordon Brown to pretend he is not doing the exact same already. Labour and the Tories are peas in a pod when it comes to cuts.
“Gordon Brown’s boomerang blunder exposes the double standards of the Prime Minister’s position.
“Now that Gordon Brown has admitted that cutting public spending is the wrong thing to do, he must acknowledge the reality of his party’s damaging cuts agenda.
“Labour are planning to raid Scotland’s health, education and housing budgets by forcing the first real terms cut in Scotland’s public expenditure since the Tories in the 1990s.
“In contrast, the Scottish Government is focussed on investing in recovery from recession – today launching a skills support package to provide real financial support to businesses and individuals through the recession.
“The Prime Minister’s bluster demonstrates exactly why Scotland needs to be responsible for all of our own resources, with an independent Scottish Parliament controlling all revenue and spending in Scotland.”
FULL FISCAL INDEPENDENCE BEST FOR SCOTTISH JOBS
Commenting on reports in the Scotsman that the Calman Commission will suggest assigned revenues for Scotland without including oil and gas revenues SNP Treasury Spokesman Stewart Hosie MP said:
“The best position is for the Scottish Parliament to have full control of the financial levers that can fight recession and deliver jobs and prosperity – and that includes powers over taxation and Scotland’s oil and gas revenue to invest in our future.
“And the people of Scotland have the right to vote for their constitutional future in a referendum – and not have a London fix imposed by the UK Government.
“Calman’s compromise will simply create another constitutional mess, leaving the Parliament without the levers of fiscal power, and short-changing Scotland.
“All parties acknowledge that the Barnett formula is no longer sustainable and should be replaced – but it must be replaced with a system of full fiscal responsibility giving Scotland the powers over taxation, including oil and gas, and spending that are needed to effectively manage the Scottish economy.
“The reality is that the flow of funds in the UK is from Scotland to the London exchequer – not the other way round. Therefore, the only acceptable alternative to the Barnett Formula is full financial independence for Scotland.
“Scotland’s labour market continues to outperform the rest of the UK, and the most recent statistical analysis – Government Expenditure and Revenue Scotland – shows that in 2006/07 Scotland had a current budget surplus worth 0.7% of GDP, whilst the UK had a deficit of -0.4% of GDP
“The SNP’s clear constitutional preference is for independence with all the responsibility that brings. Full fiscal autonomy would see Scotland control the levers necessary to reflate the economy and support recovery, including providing the right conditions for high-productivity sectors to thrive – creating the more successful country we all want to see.”
Committee Criticises Brown’s Bank Regulation Regime
Evidence stacking up against Culpability Brown
Gordon Brown faces damaging new criticism of the way banks were supervised by the Treasury, Bank of England and Financial Services Authority (FSA) following the publication today (Tuesday) of a report by the House of Lords Economic Affairs Committee.
SNP Treasury spokesperson, Stewart Hosie MP, said the report which said the so-called tripartite system had failed and must be reformed, added to the catalogue of failures by the prime minister in the lead up to the financial crisis, including:
- Brown ignored Treasury tripartite warnings in 2004.
- Admissions by the Financial Services Authority (FSA) Chairman, Lord Turner, that “the whole system was risky” and “they didn’t focus enough”
- The Bank of England’s Financial Stability Report 2007 which shows the UK Government and the Bank wilfully ignored warnings in the run up to the crisis
- Evidence from the FSA that Brown put political pressure on them not to question banks on risky practices
- The resignation of Sir James Crosby – one of the Prime Minister’s key advisors – followed revelations that when he was chief executive of bank HBOS he sacked a whistleblower who warned that banks were heading for disaster.
Commenting on the Lords report, Mr Hosie said:
“With every new report and revelation it is clear that the trail of responsibility for the banking crisis leads direct to Gordon Brown’s door. It is looking increasingly like the financial mess started in Downing Street, and not in America as the Prime Minister keeps protesting.
“The Lords report echoes criticism by the National Audit Office inquiry which found that the tripartite regulatory structure created by Gordon Brown was seriously flawed, and that Treasury officials decided it was not a priority to fix it.
“We have had allegations that Gordon Brown pressured City watchdogs into not questioning the banks’ risky practices and exerted political pressure, and now we have a Lords committee criticising the way banks were supervised.
“The evidence is stacking up against Culpability Brown.
“Until recently the main charge against Gordon Brown was his role as Chancellor in the decade when many of the cracks in the financial sector developed. But the evidence stacking up over recent weeks casts real doubt over his government’s responsibility for the financial crisis.
“With the European election on Thursday it is the SNP in Scotland who are working to protect Scotland’s jobs and communities from the impact of Brown’s economic failures.”