LATEST NEWS FROM SCOTTISH LABOUR

Scottish Labour have today called on Scottish Secretary Michael Moore to ‘stand up for Scotland’ and safeguard Scottish defence jobs. The call comes as an internal rift broke out between the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and the Treasury over the extent to which defence chiefs must take into account the effect swingeing cuts expected in the autumn will have on local communities. It has also since emerged that up to 10,000 Clyde shipyard jobs could be jeopardised if plans to build Britain’s biggest-ever warships are axed as part of the UK Governments Strategic Defence Review. So far...

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The SNP has been accused of ‘throwing in the towel’ in respect of its promise to give children two hours PE in schools after it was revealed that no assessment of progress on that key pledge has been carried out since it came to power. Cabinet Secretary for Education, Michael Russell, confirmed in a written parliamentary answer that the government has failed to collect, or ask for, any data on the provision of PE in schools despite the commitment in the SNP's 2007 manifesto that every pupil would have two hours PE each week delivered by a specialist...

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Jim Murphy today attacked the Tory / Lib Dem government over its "policy immorality" as Scots Secretary Michael Moore refused to back a scheme to help unemployed youngsters. Mr Murphy also challenged Michael Moore to publish evidence to back up an earlier claim that the Future Jobs Fund is "unsustainable". The Future Jobs Fund has provided 11,000 jobs for Scots in the last two years, but was scrapped by the Tory and Lib Dem government. Last month, Mr Moore argued that the programme was "unsustainable" but since then has refused requests to publish the evidence to back up his claim....

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Scottish Labour warned that a forgotten generation is forming under the SNP after the number of NEETs – young people not in employment, education or training- in Scotland reached its highest point since the SNP took power in 2007. The figures, reported in today’s Scotsman, show that 36,000 16 to 19 year olds were classed as NEETs in 2009 – 5,000 more than the previous year. This comes after Scottish Government figures revealed that employment rates for school leavers have plummeted to their lowest since the SNP came to power (22.9%) and a 10%...

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Scottish Labour have today warned of the ‘devastating’ impact the closure an RAF base would have in Scotland and urged the Secretary of State for Scotland to ‘show the courage to stand up for Scotland’ and called on the Defence Secretary protect Scotland’s RAF bases. Plans currently being considered as part of Ministry of Defence’s Strategic Defence and Security Review, could mean bases at Lossiemouth and Kinloss in Moray and Leuchars in Fife all facing closure. The new Typhoon base at Leuchars could also be scrapped. It is understood from reports in...

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Scottish Labour Leader Iain Gray has called on Alex Salmond to explain the whereabouts of £34 million of funding intended to help disabled children after reports reveal that Scottish charities are concerned that it has disappeared into Council coffers. The Scottish Government received £34 million through Barnett consequential funding following a £340 million investment from the prev ious Labour UK Government in projects offering help to disabled children and their families. However, reports in this week’s Scotland on Sunday reveal that it is likely that the SNP Government chose to channel the funds into general Council funds through the concordat...

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Labour warned that Scottish Lib Dem MPs must "hang their heads in shame" after they voted in favour of the Tory VAT rise. Labour forced a vote on the issue in the House of Commons, and Labour MPs voted against the VAT increase. Despite their pre-election promise, the Lib Dems voted with the Tories to increase the tax to 20% - and not a single Scottish Liberal Democrat voted with the Labour to stop the increase. Speaking after the vote in the House of Commons, Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland Jim Murphy MP said: "Labour voted against the VAT...

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Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland Jim Murphy is writing to every Lib Dem MP in Scotland urging them to vote against the rise in VAT to be debated in the House of Commons this week. It is expected that the vote may come as early as Tuesday, and Labour has ensured that MPs will vote on a specific amendment. During the election campaign, the Lib Dems promised to oppose a rise in VAT and themselves launched a campaign against it. The rise in VAT will hit Scottish families will an annual bill of about £400, but will disproportionately affect...

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Scottish Labour Leader Iain Gray has accused the SNP government of running out of steam after three wasted years in power. A stopgap legislative programme for 2010/11 has been unveiled by Labour in opposition and it tackles important issues such as domestic abuse, violence at work and unemployment (see attached document). Scottish Labour Leader Iain Gray said: "It is clear that Alex Salmond and his cabinet have already run out of steam after three wasted years in power. "Our parliament has spent much of the last year discussing fringe concerns and dealing...

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Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland Jim Murphy is today writing to every Lib Dem MP in Scotland urging them to vote against the rise in VAT to be debated in the House of Commons this week. (Scroll down for the letter.) It is expected that the vote may come as early as Tuesday, and Labour has ensured that MPs will vote on a specific amendment. During the election campaign, the Lib Dems promised to oppose a rise in VAT and themselves launched a campaign against it. The rise in VAT will hit Scottish families will an annual bill of...

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