John Swinney MP MSP, 5 th March 2000.
| 'The reason that Labour are unpopular in Scotland isn't just because of the dismal performance of Donald Dewar - it's also because of the Tory-style policies of Tony Blair in London.' John Swinney MP MSP, 5 th March 2000. | |
At a well attended by-election hustings at Prestwick Airport yesterday, Labour's candidate in the Ayr poll, which takes place next week, Rita Miller, was first to defend the Government's plans for a public-private partnership which would help create a new Scottish Air Traffic Control Centre at Prestwick.
One worker claimed the Government's refusal to listen to the staff and union's concern about safety under partial privatisation was "an insult to our professionalism".
Members of the audience also highlighted the findings of the House of Commons Transport Select Committee which had said Labour's plan was the worst possible option.
Ms Miller, however, insisted that before the last election Mr Gordon Brown, now the Chancellor, had warned that public sector investment could not be ruled out because of a black hole in the public finances.
She insisted the Government was in ongoing discussions with staff and unions and that, under the proposed partnership, the service would still be subject to the same tough safety regulations.
Tory candidate Mr John Scott also came under fire for his support for straightforward privatisation, with shares offered to the public and an independent regulatory framework set up. He claimed Labour in the shape of George Robertson had been opposed to any form of privatisation in 1994.
SNP candidate Jim Mather said a publicly-funded bond issue, as had been used in Canada, was the best solution. He claimed a public-private partnership would cost the taxpayer dear, whereas a bond issue would allow people the chance to get a return from investing in their own infrastructure.
Liberal Democrat Stuart Ritchie stressed his party had always opposed Labour's plans "tooth and nail" in the House of Commons.
Earlier, a letter written in 1993 by Gordon Brown served as the SNP's rabbit out of the hat, at a news conference in Ayr. The issue was the future of small post offices which the Nationalists are championing in the face of Labour's plans to change the way pensions and benefits are paid.
SNP candidate Mr Jim Mather and the party's communities spokeswoman, Ms Fiona Hislop, claimed the increased use of automated credit transfer threatened post offices where more than 40% of business was derived from benefits work. They claimed 11 out of 19 post offices in the Ayr constituency were at risk of closure in this way.
They then produced Mr Brown's letter to a Fife constituent, in which he appeared to support their views. Mr Brown wrote: "Many small post offices depend heavily on paying pensions and other DSS benefits. Without this business, the viability of some small post offices and sub offices may well be threatened."
Labour's current plan would mean people could still opt for benefits to be paid at the post office, but they would have to go into a post office bank account rather than be paid over the counter. The SNP will raise the issue in a debate in Parliament later today.
* Campaigners against the privatisation of the air traffic control service yesterday launched a huge "protest by e-mail" to send its message to the heart of the Government. They urged members of the public to log on to the campaign Web site - www.safeskies.co.uk - to send an e-mail to Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott.
- March 8 th 2000
Return to home page