GLASGOW LABOUR CLLR UNDERMINES PARTY'S BY-ELECTION CAMPAIGN

GLASGOW LABOUR CLLR UNDERMINES PARTY'S BY-ELECTION CAMPAIGN

IDENTIFIES £37.5 BILLION OF WASTE BY LABOUR GOVERNMENT

Glasgow SNP MSP Bill Kidd has seized on comments being made by Glasgow Labour councillor Euan McLeod last week that the Labour government in London should not spend £37.5 billion earmarked to bankroll the replacement for Trident as clear evidence of which party is wasting public money whilst demanding cuts in the Scottish budget.

Mr Kidd said the councillor’s comments ripped apart Labour’s bogus 'roadshow' in the Glasgow North East by-election and left their campaign having to explain why they were not accusing the UK Labour government of cutting Glasgow's spending whilst it wastes, at least, £37.5 billion on Trident.

The Labour councillor, who is Convener of the Nuclear Free Local Authorities Scotland, made the remarks at a seminar in Glasgow last Friday. A release issued from the seminar said he made the call as Convener with plans to renew the UK's nuclear arsenal being dropped and the funds diverted to support frontline troops.

He was quoted as saying: "The £37.5billion earmarked for the son-of-Trident could make a staggering difference to the equipment that our soldiers need to carry out their vital tasks on the front line.”

Commenting Mr Kidd said:

“How on earth can Labour keep a straight face with their self-styled ‘roadshow’ in Glasgow when one of their own councillors has identified a staggering £37.5 billion which he believes is being wasted by his own party?

“Whilst it is welcome that Cllr McLeod recognises the waste of money from nuclear weapons and suggests alternative spending it is well at odds with what his party is claiming in Glasgow and doing in government at Westminster.

“I’m sure voters in Glasgow North East will be wondering how Labour can claim one thing about the SNP when it is their own Prime Minister wanting to blow billions on weapons of mass destruction.

“If Labour in the Glasgow North East by-election are claiming the city is being ripped off perhaps they can explain why their very own government in London support spending billions on a replacement for Trident?”