Help Sitemap Home Skip Navigation Contact Us Disability Statement


Iain Gray backs SNP call for extra budget funds

Click on thumbnail to view image
Click on thumbnail to view image
Click on thumbnail to view image
Click on thumbnail to view image
Click on thumbnail to view image

Published Date: 29 October 2009
By David Maddox
SCOTTISH Labour leader Iain Gray has joined his Nationalist opponents in demanding that extra money is pumped into next year's budget to help Scotland get out of the recession.
Mr Gray has written to Chancellor Alistair Darling supporting calls for capital money allocated for 2011-12 to be brought forward a year.

However, Mr Gray insisted he is not giving the SNP blanket support for a proposal, which Scottish ministers have been pressing for over many months to match accelerated spending in this year's budget.

He is demanding that if the money is brought forward it is used to create jobs and is angry that this year only a quarter of the accelerated funds was used for that purpose.

He said: "The SNP needs to provide a guarantee that any accelerated capital will not be diverted to Alex Salmond's pet projects, like the Scottish Futures Trust.

"It is time that Alex Salmond and John Swinney realised we need to work together to get Scotland back to work."

The move by Mr Gray was portrayed in his own party as him being willing to stand up to Labour ministers in the UK.

However, the SNP pointed out that Prime Minister Gordon Brown has recently dropped hints that he himself supports accelerated capital funding.





Page 1 of 1

  • Last Updated: 28 October 2009 8:23 PM
  • Source: The Scotsman
  • Location: Edinburgh
  • Related Topics: Scotland's economy
 
1

polls,

Scotland 28/10/2009 22:27:35
This is a welcome move from Labour at Hoyrood and one that will demonstrate that mature co-operation is the best way for Scotland.

It matters not whether Brown has reversed his previous stance, what matters is that the accelerated funding requested by the Scottish Government now looks likely.
2

Jock Tamson,

Scotland, Caledonia, Alba 28/10/2009 22:51:49
So Iain Gray is advocating what he has has been told to advocate.

Splendid reporting, Mr Maddox.
3

Nevsky;,

St Petersburg 28/10/2009 23:14:54
Justin Timbercake,
19/09/2009 22:22:07

'Dear oh Dear. Cap in hand to Westminster once again.

In terms of value for money, the SNP begging bowl is hard to beat.'

Oops Rufus made to look like a truffle again!
4

Soosider,

Glasgow 29/10/2009 00:22:35
Good to see Mr Gray recognising what many have seen as the bleeding obvious. However I don't think this will herald a new chapter of mature grown up politics not when he has to have his usual 'newspeak' dig "It is time that Alex Salmond and John Swinney realised we need to work together to get Scotland back to work." given that this tends to indicate that nothing has really changed, I suspect that the treasury have given prior notice to him that they intend to agree to the SG request thereby allowing Gray to appear to have some influence.
5

Cynicus Unbound,

29/10/2009 00:40:32
Just as SLAB in 1978 was ordered by London Labour to back devolution, so now is SLABber Gray being telt by London to ask for SOME of the same as the NATS. And, for the same reasons.
6

Gregor Addison,

Glasgow 29/10/2009 00:55:37
Nice to see Labour capitulate so easily.
7

Jimbo2,

29/10/2009 01:16:50
"It is time that Alex Salmond and John Swinney realised we need to work together to get Scotland back to work."

Ha, that gave me a laugh.

Brown drops hints that he'll accede to the SNP's requests and all of a sudden Gray jumps on board to make it look as if he has an interest in Scottish politics other than negative SNP bashing.

He was probably given a call from his pal Darling to say it was in the offing. Gray and Labour - still trying to take us all for fools.
8

Gregor Addison,

Glasgow 29/10/2009 01:32:46
Iain Gray: my first act as Lord and Master of NEW SCOTTISH LABOUR is that I'll capitulate after having decided what my new cabinet will be. Keep an eye on Wendy...
9

Fitba Krazy,

29/10/2009 01:44:36
Labour having been responsible for destroying thousands of livelihoods I cannot honestly say that Labour being involved in anything is a good idea, particularly anything regarding peoples' livelihoods.

Perhaps they should just gie up altogether.

Labour, that is, of course.
10

Baggy Troosers,

29/10/2009 03:47:11
Its amazing that every time Murphy's out of the country(Rome)up pops Gray.
11

KampungHighlander,

Jakarta 29/10/2009 05:00:45
Iain Gray stands up for Scotland....when Gordon says its ok.
12

TWC,

exLabour 29/10/2009 07:51:52
Let's just be thankful that at least one positive move has been made by SLAB - Will we hear some action on Fiscal Powers or will they wait till it is too late to implement and can be just another proposal destined for the long grass.
13

Tynietiger,

29/10/2009 07:53:44
Surely this is Saint Jim's (Scotland's saviour) job.

Mind you its time for another Declaration of Arbroath as Southerns have had the ear of the Pope to tell him not to recognise our First Minister.

Yes Gray must have been told A Darling was going to allow this money to be accelerated as he can't have an opinion before the event such as release of Megrahi.
14

Auld Twa,

Edinburgh 29/10/2009 08:00:04
What happens in the unlikely event that Iain Gray's request is refused ?
15

TWC,

exLabour 29/10/2009 08:02:56
14
Auld Twa

Behave yersel'
16

Ken Mac,

Glasgow 29/10/2009 08:09:39
Iain Gray has been calling for months on the Scottish Gov. to spend money which it doesn't have but now he recognises the sense of the SNPs call for accelerated funding and is backing it? He is also calling for the SNP to cooperate with Labour. He couldn't just have backed the SNPs call when they first made it? I'm inclned to agree with the cynics who think a UK gov announcement is on its way. What is Murphy up to? Lobbying the Pope for a visit during the NE Glasgow election. Not trying to buy back the Catholic vote surely? His new friends in the LOL ain't going to like it. Can you imagine the stushie there would have been if Eck had jetted off to Rome.
17

Gary Inserik,

Nova Scotia 29/10/2009 08:17:06
Nearly fell off my seat when I read the headline! Mr Gray may have even propelled himself to become recognised (albeit under the wing of SNP)
18

Auld Twa,

Edinburgh 29/10/2009 08:21:00
For house building ?
Would some supporter please remind us of the record of council house building while Iain Gray's party were in power.
19

Linda,

Edinburgh 29/10/2009 08:39:00
Must be a by election on somewhere.
20

Ggordon,

29/10/2009 09:57:13

At last
21

Guy Wersh,

29/10/2009 10:33:36
Mind a while ago Iain Gray said that he needed to raise his profile?
Has he?
Did I miss it?
22

Jo Public,

29/10/2009 10:37:18
#21.

Nope. His profile a while ago was that of a wee ineffective twitcher.

Still is.
23

Fletty,

29/10/2009 11:05:08
If ye can't beat them, join them.
24

tommy M,

Scotland 29/10/2009 11:22:44
Grey willing to stand up to his his London masters? Did Comrade Broon give the command from london to have Grey say this Maddox, do you know?

Independence from that dismal lot of liars and traitors and financial incompetents cannae come soon enough.
25

ludicrus maximus,

29/10/2009 12:49:10
#18 Auld Twa.

Brian Currie, Political editor.
The Herald,19 Oct 2009.

During the last parliament, under the Labour-LibDem administration, councils in Scotland built just six houses – a shameful figure. Can it be that the SNP government, which claims 5000 new houses last year and is pledging 1300 will be started this year, may have more of a socialist conscience than the People’s Party.

After reading the above, only a tumshie-heid like Gray would say he wants the money to be used for a major house building programme! Has he ever thought to question the previous Lab-LibDem administration's dearth of house building?
The fact is Gray is a nonentity, dependent on his masters in London but the last thing they need is a totally ineffectual Labour opposition to the SNP. If they didn't have their own problems, and God knows they've got them, Gray's jaicket would have fallen from its shoogly peg a long time ago.



26

Montford's Jaicket,

29/10/2009 13:07:47
When I read the headline I thought, probably like many, that this might just be the sign that NewLabour (North British cohort) had decided to grow up and work with the Scottish Government to implement policies which were to the benefit of the Scottish people. Sadly, I was wrong.

To those who think Iain Grey is simply a "yes" man - he isn't. If Gordon Broon says no, then Iain Grey will say no...
27

crivensjings,

29/10/2009 22:42:15
#26

I had hoped for the same when I read this headline but I am now as disappointed as you.

What Dull Gray calls Salmond's pet projects are actually the far-sighted and medium to long term policies of the Scottish Gov't intended to reverse the damage done by decades of SLAB mismanagement of our country.

As a voter with left-of-centre views, the SNP's socialist (with a small 's') policies are exactly the reason why I tore up my Labour membership (that and the Iraq invasion) and joined the SNP. The childish behaviour of SLAB MSP's since the SNP came to power has further reinforced my belief in the SNP as the only political force which acts in the interests of Scotland and the Scots first and foremost.

SLAB's only chance for redemption in the eyes of the thinking Scottish public is to break away from the London party, start behaving like the Labour party that the Scots thought they were during Thatcher's reign and start thinking for itself. Sadly, this is unlikely and until they start supporting independence, they can never be trusted to act solely in the interests of Scotland.

SLAB RIP.

 

Comment on this Story

 

In order to post comments you must Register or Sign In

 
 
RSS Feed of this article's comments
Delivery formats: RSS, Atom, Javascript & Email
 
  

 
 


Sister Newspapers:
Press Complaints Commission

This website and its associated newspaper adheres to the Press Complaints Commission’s Code of Practice. If you have a complaint about editorial content which relates to inaccuracy or intrusion, then contact the Editor by clicking here.

If you remain dissatisfied with the response provided then you can contact the PCC by clicking here.