CHANCELLOR Philip Hammond has been accused of ‘snubbing’ Inverclyde ahead of his budget announcement this week.

Inverclyde Council chief executive Aubrey Fawcett extended an invitation to Mr Hammond and secretary of state for Scotland, David Mundell, last month to visit the area and see for themselves the negative impact the Conservative government’s austerity measures are having on residents.

Officials were also hoping to show the chancellor the effect that any further reductions in funding for local government in Wednesday’s budget would have on jobs and services with the council already facing a £13 million cash shortfall over the next two years.

Neither Mr Hammond nor Mr Mundell have taken up the offer.
The council SNP group leader Chris McEleny, who proposed the idea at a meeting in September and gained cross-party support, has expressed his disappointment.

Councillor McEleny said: “This snub, although bitterly disappointing, is not surprising. The public services that we deliver in Inverclyde are absolutely vital to communities across the district.

“It’s for that reason I put to my fellow councillors that we should invite the chancellor and the secretary of state for Scotland to Inverclyde to see first-hand the impacts their decisions will have here.

“It is simply not good enough for them to continue to make decisions that hurt Inverclyde without ever having to face up to their consequences.

“Surely no rational person, if they came and saw the impact service threats and facility closures would have here, would then go onto make decisions that cause that.

“The snub to visit Inverclyde now leaves me very concerned that our vital services are now under greater threat.”

There have been widespread calls, including from council and union officials, for an end to austerity and for a ‘fair funding settlement’ from Mr Hammond tomorrow and from Holyrood when the Scottish Government publishes its draft budget next month.

Inverclyde MP Ronnie Cowan said: “The Westminster government is becoming increasingly disengaged from the communities that it’s supposed to serve.

“I’ve offered to facilitate visits from ministers that would enable them to talk to and listen to constituents.

“I believe this would help them gain insight into the real problems faced by a large number of people in Inverclyde.

“I’m extremely disappointed that once again they have refused an offer to visit Inverclyde.

“As the Tory austerity programme continues to hurt those who are most vulnerable, UK Government ministers must not allow themselves to become confined to a political silo.”

Greenock & Inverclyde MSP Stuart McMillan also expressed his disappointment at the snub.

He said: “It is quite frankly astounding that faceless UK Government ministers may again force the reduction of services in Scotland, but are not willing to come and witness the consequences of their actions.”