Scottish Labour’s Margaret Curran has accused the SNP and the Conservatives of stabbing Glasgow in the back by voting down Labour’s amendment to reinstate the Glasgow Airport Rail Link in the budget.

Glasgow Baillieston MSP Margaret Curran said:

“The SNP and the Conservatives have stabbed Glasgow in the back by voting down Labour’s efforts to save the Glasgow Airport Rail Link. They will not be forgiven for betraying their constituents in this way.

“The Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon is first among the guilty men and women. It is clear that she is the SNP Government’s representative in Glasgow and not Glasgow’s representative in the SNP Government.

“This administration has an additional £58.5 million to spend this year because of a rise in Scotland’s share of UK spending and more than double the budget that was available to Donald Dewar.

“It is absolutely clear that their decision to cancel the rail link, which will cost the West of Scotland 1,300 jobs, was unnecessary and unjustified. Every single MSP who voted for this budget should hang their heads in shame.

"As Scotland’s ‘big six’ business organisations have pointed out, this project is vital to the economy. Labour will continue to stand up for Glasgow and the West of Scotland and promise to reinstate the rail link if we win the next election.”

04/02/10