Holyrood message by Duncan McNeil MSP
Published 23 Jan 2012 15:00
Job statistics are worrying
The latest unemployment stats made grim reading for anyone who cares about the future of this country.
Over the past three months, more than 200 people a day lost their jobs in Scotland.
Unemployment in total shot up by nearly 10 per cent, while the number of women who lost their job shot up by 25 per cent.
And for those who understand the damage caused by long-term youth unemployment, there will be dismay at the 123 per cent increase in the last year.
In Inverclyde, we can expect to face the worst of those unemployment stats being a community less resilient to those cuts. So what do we do about it?
The SNP Government's complacent response this week was to do nothing - and harmed our chances of tackling unemployment in Inverclyde.
Our bid for enterprise area status would have helped us attract jobs and business to the area. But the SNP Government overlooked us once again, instead awarding this to our neighbours in Ayrshire, and potentially sucking jobs out of the area.
While I would wish the best of luck to the struggling communities in Ayrshire that will benefit, this is the latest blow to our efforts to make Inverclyde a better place to live and work.
So far, we have had our regeneration funds slashed, we have been excluded from the renewables industry and our college is facing an uncertain future because of cuts.
The message from the Scottish Government is loud and clear - Inverclyde is not a priority.
The First Minister is quick to take credit for good news.
But he always has an alibi when the bad news hit, whether it be the UK Government, a lack of financial powers or the bad weather.
The reality is the cuts and the political decisions that are impacting Inverclyde are home-made.
And his complacency will be of no comfort to the growing number of families facing unemployment this year.
This article appeared in Greenock Telegraph 23 Jan 12
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