LABOUR & TORY OPPOSITION FAIL TO SUPPORT INVESTMENT IN MONKLANDS
Communities across North Lanarkshire, including the Monklands area, are set to benefit from greater support as a result of the Scottish Government’s Budget, SNP MSP for Coatbridge & Chryston Fulton MacGregor has said. This includes £9.961 million additional resource and capital funding for North Lanarkshire overall.
Labour, Tory and Lib Dem opponents failed to support investment for North Lanarkshire in the budget – with the three opposition parties voting against the SNP’s proposals to fund local services on Thursday.
MacGregor has condemned the approach taken by the three parties, providing opposition for opposition’s sake rather than supporting investment in communities throughout North Lanarkshire.
Commenting, SNP MSP Fulton MacGregor said:
“This Scottish Government’s budget provides a strong funding deal for North Lanarkshire, giving spending commitments in the NHS, education, infrastructure, environment and the economy. For the opposition parties, with the exception of the Greens, to vote against all of this was deeply disappointing and against the best interests of our communities.
“It was disappointing to see Labour, the Lib Dems and the Tories be more interested in political point scoring rather than standing up for their local communities in Coatbridge & Chryston – but there’s still time for them to drop their opposition and back the Scottish Government’s proposals as the Budget Bill progresses.
“North Lanarkshire itself will benefit from a range of direct spending commitments, including £9.961 million which will contribute to £1.1bn overall for NHS Lanarkshire and the continuous M8, M73, M74 improvements.
“Labour, the Tories and the Lib Dems should think again before choosing to rob Monklands of these vital services in a narrow-minded campaign designed to achieve nothing more than embarrassing the SNP Scottish Government. This budget is too important for our communities to allow that to happen.”
Fulton MacGregor 