NO SWAY GRAY IS LONDON LABOUR LAUGHING STOCK

NO SWAY GRAY IS LONDON LABOUR LAUGHING STOCK

LOCAL AND NATIONAL HUMILIATIONS MAKE A BAD WEEK WORSE FOR SCOTTISH LABOUR

The UK Government’s refusal to bring forward capital spending in the Pre-Budget Report makes a bad week for Labour’s beleaguered Scottish group leader even worse.

Iain Gray, a former political adviser to Alistair Darling, made a public plea to the Chancellor urging him to accelerate spending in a bid to boost the economy. Mr Gray said: “It was Scottish Labour who called for the Treasury to allow the Scottish Government to accelerate capital last year and I am calling on the Chancellor to do so again…We want to see accelerated funding used to address the crisis in the construction industry and support a major expansion of the housing programme that will generate jobs and training opportunities for young people."

Mr Gray is already reeling after his East Lothian constituency party was reported to the Electoral Commission over illegal donations.

Commenting, SNP MSP Joe FitzPatrick said:

“After making such a public plea to the Chancellor, Iain Gray has been left high and dry. For a former special adviser to Alistair Darling, Mr Gray does not seem to have much a of a special relationship with his former boss. His belated support for Scottish Government calls to accelerate spending to protect jobs and support the economy through Labour's recession clearly had no sway in Downing Street. Still reeling from the questions over his illegal constituency party donations, Iain Gray’s bad week just got worse."