First Minister and city council leader clash over initiatives
Alex Salmond and Gordon Matheson both wanted to reveal youth schemes
SECRET emails have revealed another clash between the Scottish Government and Glasgow City Council – this time over the launch of a youth training scheme.
Correspondence between officials at the SNP administration in Edinburgh and the Labourled local authority show Alex Salmond wanted to block council leader Gordon Matheson from highlighting a city-wide training scheme for fear it upstaged his own initiative.
Tensions surfaced in the run-up to an announcement by the First Minister yesterday of a £2.4 million scheme to train up 1000 jobless young Scots during next year’s Commonwealth Games.
Councillor Matheson was invited to endorse the scheme as it was launched at Glasgow’s Emirates Arena, the main games venue.
He agreed but insisted also on highlighting the city’s own £25m youth employment programme, known as the Glasgow Guarantee.
In an anxious email to city officials, seen by The Herald, a senior Government press officer wrote: “I have a concern about laying out so clearly the Glasgow Guarantee figures, given the numbers involved completely overshadow the £2.4m and thousand places we are announcing.
“Unfortunately, I am simply not going to get clearance from the First Minister for a SG (Scot- tish Government) news release that contains a supportive quote outlining a funding pot and initiative that is so in excess of the main announcement of the day.”
The press spokesman suggested a less detailed reference to the Glasgow scheme before adding: “I hope you appreciate the position that I am in on this.”
Councillor Matheson refused to back down, the lengthy exchange of emails revealed, and the press release emailed to journalists and posted on the Government’s website yesterday morning did not quote him.
The council leader’s comments did, however, appear, on a printed version of a press release circulated at the event.
A source close to Councillor Matheson said: “We were very disappointed the council leader’s comments were left off the press release and the Scottish Government did not have the good grace to acknowledge the good work going on in Glasgow.”
Relations between the Nationalist Government and Labour-led council are less than warm.
Last September, the council was kept in the dark when the Scottish Government announced the city would stage a homecoming parade and party for the country’s Olympic Games stars.
Also last year the SNP accused councillors of snubbing Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon over an offer to speak at an economic conference.
The authority rebuffed her offer to address the city’s annual State of the Economy Conference, inviting former chancellor Alistair Darling instead.
The council also refused to let Ms Sturgeon use the new trans- port museum on the Clyde to launch a Government travel smartcard scheme.
Announcing the training programme, Mr Salmond said: “The Scotland’s Best programme is a terrific opportunity, which will see one thousand unemployed young people up and down the country given the chance to gain valuable skills, experience and qualifications as part of this country’s 2014 Commonwealth Games legacy.
“Glasgow 2014 promises to be a fantastic sporting spectacle, but it will be much more than that.”
A Scottish Government source last night suggested Councillor Matheson’s comments were omitted “by mistake”.
A Government spokeswoman said: “We are delighted to be helping to deliver such an impressive games legacy for Glasgow and look forward to continued partnership with the city council to ensure as many people as possible reap the benefit from next year’s events.”