Holyrood message by Duncan McNeil MSP
Published 30 Jan 2012 13:00
We need answers
Last week, politics was dominated by big Eck's independence referendum.
He was keen to talk about the rules, the timing, who can vote, who can't vote, how many questions on the referendum. He wasn't keen to deal with anything other than the substance of the issue.
What people really want to hear is the economic case for independence.
What would Scotland look like, the currency, who will decide the budget in Scotland, who will set interest rates, and who will determine how much Scotland can borrow? All very important to your savings and the mortgage you will be asked to pay.
If people are to make an informed decision by the time the referendum comes around, the SNP need to be clear in their answers to these questions.
Meanwhile, away from the glare of the bright lights and camera's, John Swinney set out his budget for the next year. And as expected, it was not good news for Inverclyde. Cuts to council budgets, housing and regeneration remain firmly in place.
Whatever the constitutional settlement there may be in the future, it is a responsibility of the current government to roll up its sleeves and commit its energy to delivering jobs and economic growth in areas like Greenock and Inverclyde.
The budget will disproportionately hit our community and our ability to grow our local economy. And as we know, James Watt College and Riverside Inverclyde have already taken a big hit.
While we can't be stuck in the past, we shouldn't be blinded by the future. There is action that needs to be taken here and now.
Our young unemployed people cannot hang around until the constitutional question is settled.
This article appeared in Greenock Telegraph 30 Jan 12
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