LABOUR’S HYPOCRISY ON ROADS

LABOUR’S HYPOCRISY ON ROADS

LABOUR’S CUT COULD HAVE CAUSED IMMENSE CHAOS

Scotland’s roads would have been facing even greater pressures if plans by labour to cut the roads budget had been realised says Highlands & Islands SNP MSP Rob Gibson - a member of the Scottish Parliament's Transport Committee.

Today concerns have been raised about the effects the prolonged winter conditions will have on council funded roads but Mr Gibson has pointed out that Labour’s attempts to cut £10 million from the roads budget last year would have exacerbated these problems.

As a Transport Committee Report from January 2008 shows Labour attempted to cut £10 million from last year’s budget, a further £10 million this year and another £10 million in the year ahead.

Commenting Mr Gibson said:

"Labour’s hypocrisy on this issue knows no bounds as they try and hide from their own responsibilities. Attempts at politicising this serious issue are as dodgy as all their claims and also highly hypocritical.

“We have gone through an exceptional and prolonged period of winter weather and local councils will naturally be concerned about how this will affect their roads budgets.

"However Labour’s plans for a £10 million funding cut in the roads budgets would have had a disastrous impact on our roads network at this time of year.

“The last few weeks highlight the folly of Labour’s proposal to cut £10 million a year from the road maintenance fund.

"Shockingly this move was also backed by MSPs for some of the worst affected areas.

"Labour must make clear that they will not seek to make such inappropriate proposals again when this year’s budget comes to Parliament.