People in Glasgow share the same concerns as any other part of the country – tackling crime, creating jobs and helping families through tough times – but one persistent issue unique to the city is continuing anger at the SNP government ripping off Glasgow.
This made a huge impact when Labour's William Bain was elected Glasgow North East MP in last November’s by-election with a massive 8,111 majority and remained a key issue during the recent General Election for voters in Glasgow.
Despite receiving a record amount of money from Westminster this year from the former Labour government - over £600million more than the previous year’s Scottish budget - the SNP government gave Glasgow a raw deal and there are fears that worse is planned for coming years.
It’s not for lack of trying. While a strong Labour Council, Glasgow has never played petty politics with SNP ministers. We’ve been fair and successful in fighting our corner, securing vital investment to complete the M74 motorway - boosting jobs in Glasgow’s southside and east end - and develop the Cart flood prevention scheme, protecting homes across the south of our city.
That soured over the past year, as SNP ministers:
- Scrapped the Glasgow Airport Rail Link with the loss of 1,000 new jobs, a decision that saw the city’s Evening Times headline scream “BETRAYED” with First Minister Alex Salmond the man “who put a knife into the city”;
- Slashed £260million from housing and regeneration across Scotland, with our city the hardest hit, putting on hold plans for quality affordable housing;
- Declined to give a penny to museums in Glasgow - where Kelvingrove and the Burrell are among Britain’s busiest attractions - yet handed £40million to Scotland’s “national” museums in Edinburgh;
- Restricted funding for every mile of maintaining the busiest streets in Glasgow, Scotland’s biggest city, to effectively the same formula as any mile on the quietest rural road;
- Refused three Town Centre bids to support Glasgow jobs and businesses in Possil, Parkhead and Shawlands - the latter shamefully in Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon’s own constituency;
- Excluded Glasgow from the first phase of the SNP’s new school building programme, shunning the city as all our secondaries were rebuilt or refurbished ten years ago.
After the North East by-election defeat, SNP ministers hastily awarded Glasgow funding for three new primary schools despite stating only one was on offer, but it’s far from generous. Labour ministers previously funded 80% of new builds while councils found the remaining 20%, but the SNP will only match councils 50/50 for new primaries.
When the 2010/11 settlement for councils was announced by SNP ministers, Glasgow had the lowest increase at 1.47% against a Scottish average of 2.77% – leaving the city shortchanged by £20million compared to that average – despite many councils faring much better with sparse explanation.The SNP now say Glasgow’s extra primary school funding was based on “need”. Labour councillors know what that really means, focusing resources in our communities where it’s needed most. We’ll always argue for that. Not just in Glasgow, but in every council across Scotland.
Welcome to blogging; shame you have to start on such a negative note.
ReplyDeleteGlasgow, as Archie Graham acknowledged at a public meeting in Dalmarnock last week, is getting 80% of the funding for the Commonwealth Games from the Scottish Government.
This is in addition to the M74, M80, Southern General, upgrade to Dalmarnock Station, and three successful town centre regeneration funding bids.
You know fine well that the "percentage increase" thing is a complete red herring - Glasgow City Council already gets the highest allocation per head of any mainland local authority. NHSGGC also gets £1888 per head of population, the highest in Scotland (25% of all NHS spending ends is to the Glasgow area).
I could go on, but it seems a bit cruel... I'll wait 'til you've done a few more posts!
I almost choked on my tea when I seen you chose to mention schools... What remarkable and unashamed brass neck you must have. You are part of the LABOUR council administration that has slashed and burned our school stock in Glasgow. Killed off community centre's. Privatised departments that are now seeing massive cuts and job losses.
ReplyDeleteGlasgow does feel short changed, but I'm afraid the bill lies firmly at the door of Glasgow City Chambers.
Thank god we only have under 2 years left of Labour running Glasgow.
Are you hoping to get elected somewhere soon? - classic Labour tactics - rubbish the opposition instead of talking yourself up!
ReplyDeleteI agree with anonymous... I wonder why he refers to himself as "Councillor for the Southside of Glasgow". Nothing to do with the new Southside parliamentary constituency, surely?
ReplyDeleteThanks Mrs Belle,
ReplyDeleteFacts may get in the way of your argument.
Important to note that the 2014 Commonwealth Games are funded 80% by Scottish Ministers as Scotland is the host nation - this ratio was agreed prior to 2007 by Jack McConnell as First Minister with the remaining fifth from Glasgow City Council. It was welcome that SNP ministers continued this, despite their doubts over the pressing need to complete the M74 as part of the overall bid.
What I outlined was a clear shift over the past twelve months that shortchanged Glasgow with grant funding and specific decisions.
Percentages are extremely important, because Glasgow is the biggest local authority. The grant settlement from Scottish Ministers this year is not only the worst deal in Scotland, but the worst since devolution compared to all other councils.
The expanded NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde covers an even more substantial area and population rather need remains the key determinant for funding in Scotland's health service.
Stewart, I promise I will write more on schools and the empty bag which is the Scottish Futures Trust. It would be interesting to hear how you would meet that average £20million gap we received directly from SNP ministers, unless you would prefer a massive tax hike on Scottish or Glasgow taxpayers.
I've been elected to represent a variety of communities south of the Clyde for seven years and have always described myself as a Southside Councillor as the ward names often don't help, but thanks for your suggestion!