BLACKFORD ‘CRASS’ OVER SCOTRAIL JOBS
SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford has been branded “crass and tasteless” for comparing the relocation of call centre jobs to the Highland Clearances.
Blackford tweeted his anger at ScotRail operator Abellio for planning to close its Fort William call centre and move the 19 jobs there to Glasgow.
The MP for Ross, Skye & Lochaber wrote: “The staff BY STEPHEN STEWART have been mistreated, the business has been run down in order to facilitate this move.
“To relocate jobs to the central belt in this way is a form of modern-day Highland clearance.”
Labour Transport spokesman Colin Smyth said: “This is a crass and tasteless remark from Ian Blackford, who seems so desperate to grab a headline he has forgotten that Abellio was handed its contract by the SNP.
“The SNP Government failed to protect the call centre in Fort William in the franchise agreement with Abellio.”
Abellio said consultation with the affected staff would start this week, and it would be “inappropriate to comment” on Blackford’s statement.