‘Inconvenient truths’ need to be considered
The Strathearn Herald last week had two political items involving Conservative representatives which merit balancing comment.
In her regular column, local MSP Liz Smith called for public accountability and enhanced scrutiny of Scottish Government spending.
She properly highlighted what has been poor shipbuilding performance in completing two ferries at the publicly-owned marine yard in Port Glasgow and noted a critical Audit Scotland report.
She contrasted this with the “ambitious new vision” of the UK government and its financing of a frigate at Rosyth.
Ms Smith omitted to mention that this will be the first general frigate of the 13 frigate constructions promised by the UK government during the 2014 independence referendum campaign.
Whilst criticising the Scottish Government arrangements for shipbuilding and wind turbine purchase from other countries, she failed to reference the UK government opening up frigate building to international competitive tendering.
Ms Smith made her public plea for accountability and scrutiny of reported Scottish Government mismanagement but notably failed to reference the UK National Audit Office reports of UK government corruption in the award of PPE contracts.
The NAO has revealed UK government purchases worth £4.9 billion made without any open competition with 68 contractors on a “VIP” list of donors and friends of the
Conservative party nominated by UK government ministers.
In a different article, the Herald also reports on comments on about 40 to 50 vacancies at Crieff Hydro by Councillor Murray Lyle, the Conservative leader of Perth and Kinross Council, which also demonstrated a selective analysis and airbrushing of inconvenient truths.
Cllr Lyle focused on the lack of local Hydro job applicants and their preference for unemployment and standard of living.
The suggestion appeared to be that Hydro vacancies are associated with benefits scrounging.
The report makes no mention of Brexit and the absence now of free movement of labour from Europe.
The damaging effects of Brexit were widely predicted to include major workforce problems and vacancies in hospitality, fruit picking, health and care services.
Over many years, the Crieff Hydro group has employed a large number of staff from continental Europe and the current difficulties are surely related to their absence.
Our loss has turned into a gain for Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium, where many are now going instead of to the UK.
The article concludes by recording that a council officer had said an “honest conversation” is needed about the issues affecting the local hotel situation.
That conversation needs to recognise the inconvenient truth that the forecast Brexit consequences are now happening and that these will only be reversed through Scottish independence.