MURPHY CONDEMNED FOR LETTING GLASGOW DOWN

MURPHY CONDEMNED FOR LETTING GLASGOW DOWN
LEGACY DISCUSSIONS MUST TAKE PLACE
SNP MSP Bob Doris has today accused Jim Murphy and the Labour Government of letting Glasgow down after they cancelled an important meeting to discuss the return of £150 million lottery funds toward ensuring a lasting legacy for the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

The Scottish Government is supporting a cross-party campaign to recover £150 million in lottery funds which was diverted from Scottish good causes to finance the 2012 London Olympics.

Secretary of State for Scotland Jim Murphy and UK Sports Minister Gerry Sutcliffe cancelled a meeting with Scottish Sports Minister Shona Robison on 10 November to discuss the return of these funds. The issue was raised at First Minister’s Questions after Bob Doris questioned the UK’s decision to withhold a further £165m million of regeneration funding due to Scotland from Barnett Consequentials.

Mr Doris said:
“Labour is letting Glasgow and Scotland down. It is a disgrace that Jim Murphy and his UK colleagues cancelled a meeting with Shona Robison to discuss the £150 million of legacy funding Scotland should receive.

“Despite being on the record of supporting the legacy campaign it seems Jim Murphy is unwilling to do anything about it.

“After Scotland’s voluntary and sports organisations saw their lottery funding slashed to pay for building the London Olympics, the failure to deliver equivalent lottery funding for the legacy of the Glasgow Games is astonishing.

“I hope Labour in Scotland will not walk away from the campaign for the return of lottery funds and will add their support to that of the House of Lords in calling for Scotland to be allocated £165 million of regeneration money due to Scotland.

“Jim Murphy and Gerry Sutcliffe must change their minds, meet the Minister at the earliest opportunity and ensure Scotland is not short changed when it comes to the Commonwealth Games.”