‘Sound of silence’ on 1000 jobs blow
MSP says Tories haven’t replied to call for support
East Kilbride’s MSP has blasted the town’s Conservatives for their “deafening silence” over the government’s decision to move 1000 civil service jobs out of East Kilbride.
It has been more than two months since Collette Stevenson wrote to Lisa Cameron MP and Central Scotland MSP Graham Simpson seeking their support for retaining Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office jobs at their headquarters in Hairmyres, and she says she has yet to receive a reply.
The MSP claims her letters to Alister Jack MP, Scotland Office Minister, and to Sir Keir Starmer, asking if he would continue with these plans if elected as Prime Minister later this year were also ‘ignored”.
Ms Stevenson led a debate in the Scottish Parliament on January 10 and later met with the owners of the Centre One Queensway site, home of the HMRC base in the town. She says it was confirmed that the UK Government hadn’t entered into any discussions with the owners regarding the future of Queensway House.
The MSP told the EK News last week that the owners were, and still are open to negotiations, ‘with a number of options on the table’.
Ms Stevenson said: “Two months have now passed since the UK Government broke the news they were removing over 1000 civil service jobs from East Kilbride. Not one Tory politician – Alister Jack MP, Lisa Cameron MP, nor Graham Simpson MSP have had the decency to respond to any of my emails.
“During my debate in Parliament, Graham Simpson suggested he doesn’t respond to ‘stunts.’ It’s clear he would rather not speak out against his UK Government colleagues, rather than speaking up for retaining over 1000 civil service in the town he represents.
“Given we are in an election year, I also wrote to Sir Keir Starmer to ask if he would continue with these Tory plans if he were made Prime Minister. That correspondence was passed to Ian Murray MP, in his capacity as Shadow Scotland
Office Minister. That was over four weeks ago, and I eagerly await his response. People quite rightly deserve to know if these plans will proceed before casting their vote.”
Lanarkshire MSPs have accused the UK Government of abandoning East Kilbride following its decision to relocate 1000 civil service jobs away from the town.
The former Overseas Development Administration and Department for International Development (DFID) has been based at Abercrombie House in East Kilbride since the early 1980s.
In December, it was revealed that, with no prior consultation, 1000 staff were told they are to be relocated to Glasgow.
The SNP’s Collette Stevenson led a debate recently and expressed her gratitude that SNP, Green and Labour colleagues supported her motion, but also disappointment that no Conservative MSP supported it, including those who live in the town and represent it.
She called on the UK Government to scrap the plans and “avoid a further broken promise to the people of East Kilbride”.
The MSP added: “This short-sighted decision has shown the Tories have no plan. They didn’t consult with the Scottish Government nor South Lanarkshire Council prior to the announcement.
“Workers were only informed an hour before the decision was made public. No new site has as yet been identified, and such a move would cost far more in rent they currently pay in East Kilbride.
“Have the UK Government considered what impact the relocation will have on passenger numbers using the EK to Glasgow rail line?
“I have met with the owners of Queensway House who have recently put a number of proposals to the UK Government and I of course hope these discussions go well.
The UK Government should engage more constructively with all relevant stakeholders to consider all options.”
In response, Lisa Cameron MP said: “I have had constructive discussions with FCDO, South Lanarkshire Council and with the owners of Queensway House and will continue to work with all parties involved to identify viable resolutions.”
Graham Simpson MSP hit back, saying: “If Collette Stevenson wants to speak to me about any local issue then she knows where my office is but she seems to want to conduct business via press releases. That is not going to help anyone.
“I have also been in dialogue with the UK Government and the owners of Queensway House. I also hope their discussions with the UK Government go well.”
During my debate in parliament Graham Simpson suggested he doesn’t respond to ‘stunts’