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| Neil delighted with positive Scottish Budget for Airdrie | |
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Alex Neil MSP has described this years Scottish Budget as being positive for the people of Airdrie after measures in it included a further freeze in Council Tax, a £2million Boiler Scrappage Scheme, a rise in the health budget and a Post Office Diversification Fund. Mr Neil said that this years Budget would help the people of Airdrie as the country begins to recover from the worst recession in living memory. But the Central Scotland MSP was scathing in his attack on Karen Whitefield MSP, who he accused of “political opportunism, hypocrisy and neglecting her constituents”. Mr Neil’s attack came after Ms Whitefield voted against the Budget, and against measures like the boiler scrappage scheme, support for student parents, a further Council Tax freeze, an increase in the frontline education budget and lower prescription charges which were all contained in the Budget. Mr Neil said: “I am delighted at the measures contained in the Budget. People in Airdrie will benefit directly from the likes of the Boiler Scrappage Scheme, freeze in Council Tax, reduction in prescription charges and the Small Business Bonus. “The £1 million Post Office Diversification Fund is a substantial fund to help local post offices survive and offer non-post office activities in Scotland. This gives branches the chance to expand their business and hopefully keep more branches from being closed by Westminster. I am disappointed that Labour voted against a measure focused at protecting the heart of communities around Airdrie. "While Labour have spent the last few years in Government closing post offices the SNP is working hard to keep them open and keep them profitable. “A further freeze in the Council Tax keeps money in the pockets of folk in Airdrie who simply cannot afford the kind of rises we saw under the last administration. “But I am really angry at the hypocrisy of Karen Whitefield. She, along with her Labour colleagues, demanded that the Scottish Government implement a boiler scrappage scheme in this Budget. But she decided to vote against the boiler scrappage scheme despite knowing how beneficial it could be to the people of Airdrie. “Karen Whitefield has decided to vote against the boiler scrappage scheme, a freeze in Council Tax, lower prescription chargers, an increase in the education budget, an increase in the health budget, increased support for student parents, an increased universal home insulation scheme and the small business bonus. These are measures that will directly benefit people from all backgrounds in Airdrie. “Unfortunately political opportunism has resulted in Karen Whitefield choosing to neglect her constituents by voting against the measures in the Budget. “The question remains for Karen Whitefield – why were you willing to risk these benefits for your constituency to pursue one capital project which cannot be afforded because of the massive cuts imposed by Westminster?” |
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