MURPHY’S ONLINE EFFORTS FAIL SCOTLAND - £18,000 FOR MURPHY BLOG

MURPHY’S ONLINE EFFORTS FAIL SCOTLAND - £18,000 FOR MURPHY BLOG

2000% INCREASE IN COST FOR SCOTLAND OFFICE BLOG

BUSINESS WEBSITE NOT UPDATED SINCE AUGUST

The Scotland Office spent £15,000 more on it’s website last year - a
total of £18,000 to accommodate Jim Murphy’s political blog and twitter -
while neglecting Scotland on the “Real Help Now” site set up to help
business in the recession.

The last item added to Real Help Now for Scotland was a press release on a
visit by Alasdair Darling to Glasgow in August.

In contrast figures released by the Scotland Office in a Freedom of
Information Request show that the cost of the Scotland Office website has
increase by over £17,000 since 2007 and over £15,000 since Jim Murphy
became Scottish Secretary.

Since 2007 the cost of the Scotland Office website has increased 2000%

Shadow Scotland Office Spokesman Angus MacNeil MP said:

“The Scotland Office has their priorities all wrong. It seems Jim Murphy
and his team are more intent on promoting themselves than promoting
business.

"A 2000% increase in costs for Jim Murphy is simply shocking at a time
when the rest of the country is tightening their belts.

“Voters do not want the political ramblings of Jim Murphy on his
Government blog – they want to see support for business during the
recession.

“That the UK Government have had nothing to say in support of Scottish
business since August is a disgrace.

“In difficult economic times when we are all having to tighten our belts
it is ridiculous that the Scotland Office finds it acceptable to spend
£15,000 on a website.

“Jim Murphy should take a lead from John Swinney’s book – the Scottish
Government budget for next year will cut spending on marketing to ensure
we support the frontline during the recession. Perhaps Scotland Office
savaings could start with Murphy’s blog.”