MP’sCommonsdebutis blast at East End poverty
Political Correspondent A NEW Glasgow MP has attacked the “burning injustice” of poverty in the city in his maiden speech in the House of Commons.
David Linden became SNP MP for Glasgow East at the election earlier this month, narrowly defending the seat for the SNP from Labour’s Kate Watson.
The new MP told the Commons of the challenges in the communities in his constituency and laid the blame firmly outside the door of 10 Downing Street.
He said: “I have said that much has been done to regenerate Glasgow East over the past decade, but we continue to work with one hand tied behind our back.
“Stark health inequalities and poverty still overshadow the East End, with eye-watering austerity from the Conservative party leading to painful social security cuts and an enormous reduction in household incomes.
“It is simply unaccepta- ble that in Glasgow East 6,234 children are deemed to be living in poverty. That is the burning injustice the Prime Minister must be pursuing right now.
“People in Glasgow East are no longer “just about managing”; we are just fed up with austerity.”
He praised a previous East End MP, former Labour Health Minister of the 1920s, John Wheatley, for his social housing vision which he said had been sadly destroyed by the right-to-buy policy of Margaret Thatcher.
He said that the poorest people in cities like Glasgow were paying the pr ic e for f a i le d Tor y policies.
Mr Linden added: “Austerity from the British Government has affected, and will continue to affect, some of the most vulnerable people in my constituency. In particular, cuts to social security, I emphasise the words “social security” are the primary cause for the increased usage of foodbanks and a dispropor- tionate dependency on local services in the voluntary sector, which is at breaking point.
“It is quite clear to me that it is no longer the broad shoulders of the United Kingdom supporting my constituents; instead, it is far too often the broad shoulders of the Glasgow North East foodbank.”
Mr Linden, who grew up in Cranhill in the constituency, said it was the “greatest honour of his life” to represent the people.
He added: “As the son of a single mother growing up in the shadow of the Cranhill water tower, I never imagined in my wildest dreams that one day I would be standing here speaking on behalf of my friends, my family and my constituents.”