Fight for tax jobs is given a boost
The battle to keep thousands of tax office jobs in East Kilbride received a boost when the Scottish Government’s cabinet secretary for finance, economy and fair work met with union representatives.
East Kilbride SNP MSP Linda Fabiani welcomed Derek Mackay MSP on Monday as the Stay in EK campaign, backed by the News, continues the battle to keep 2700 jobs in the town.
Mr Mackay spoke with the local branch of the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) who are spearheading the campaign.
The cabinet secretary was interested to hear the perspective of local employees; the ongoing campaign and the concerns of the EK Task Force about the effect on the town if the tax offices close.
HMRC plan to axe the Plaza office in 2021 with Centre 1 closed in 2026. Operations would be based at a regional centre in Glasgow.
Ms Fabiani has also written to the secretary of state for Scotland, David Mundell MP, twice highlighting concerns to move Scotland Office operations – including HMRC jobs – to a new ‘UK Government Hub’ at Haymarket in Edinburgh, from its current location in the city, while moving thousands of jobs out of East Kilbride but has yet to receive a response.
Ms Fabiani said: “In the absence of any response to me by the UK secretary of state for Scotland, and the lack of information coming from Westminster, it was good to talk and ask Mr Mackay to confirm the Scottish Government’s support for keeping HMRC jobs in EK.
“The fight continues for HMRC to ‘Stay in EK’.”
PCS East Kilbride vice-president John Davidson said: “We received a fair hearing from the finance secretary who seemed receptive to our arguments that the plan to close East Kilbride is wrong on human, economic and fiscal levels.
“At a time when HMRC admits that the tax gap runs to tens of billions of pounds each year, and more staff are needed to deal with the consequences of Brexit alone, a moratorium is the minimum the UK Government should declare over the closures.
“We will be working with Mr Mackay and our many other supporters in the weeks, months and years to come to ensure that tax jobs Stay in EK.”