SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT JOIN FORCES WITH UIST COMMUNITY IN JOBS TASKFORCE

SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT JOIN FORCES WITH UIST COMMUNITY IN JOBS TASKFORCE

Western Isles SNP MP, Angus MacNeil, and MSP, Alasdair Allan, have taken part in a meeting of the Scottish Government Task Force which is campaigning for the retention of defence jobs in Uist.

The meeting, which was chaired by Finance Secretary, John Swinney MSP, was described by the Islands’ elected members ‘as a very positive start to a very determined campaign’.

Alasdair Allan commented:

”Today was a chance for everyone with a stake in this issue to get round the one table in Edinburgh and to get the Scottish Government involved very centrally in this campaign. The meeting brought together local parliamentarians, the Comhairle, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and the National Trust for Scotland.

“Two Scottish Cabinet Ministers were involved; Cabinet Secretary for Finance, John Swinney, and Cabinet Secretary for Education, Fiona Hyslop.

“There was no doubting the unanimity of feeling in the room; Uist needs and deserves these jobs and, after supporting the bases for 50 years, deserves a much better deal from the MOD and QinetiQ.”

Angus MacNeil commented:

"It was a consensual and productive meeting with everybody primarily focused on saving the jobs and reversing the decision. I have tabled a series of parliamentary questions at Westminster to try to unpick the flawed thinking that led to this decision, in addition to further pressing the MOD for a meeting. John Swinney and the Scottish Government are to be applauded for their fleet of foot in getting the task force moving.

““There will be a further opportunity for the community to plan tactics at a meeting in Benbecula tomorrow which will also involve community land-owner Storas Uibhist and representatives of the workforce. “