Christina McKelvie MSP has backed the Scottish Government’s commitment to stimulate the economy with new infrastructure funding in the wake of the EU referendum.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has announced an additional £100m of funding in this financial year to speed up the delivery of health and other infrastructure projects – as well as the establishment of a new service to provide information and support to businesses affected by the EU referendum.
Projects will be assessed for accelerated funding against a range of criteria including how quickly work can start, the number of jobs that will be supported or created, the likely impact on the supply chain and geographic spread.
Christina has called on the UK Government to urgently announce its own economic stimulus package, which would enable the Scottish Government to do even more to accelerate capital spending to support communities both in Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse and across Scotland.
Commenting, Christina said:
“Nicola Sturgeon has been clear that the Scottish Government will pursue all possible options to protect Scotland’s relationship with the EU.
“This approach has been reinforced by the Scottish Trade Union Congress (STUC), the collective trade union structure in Scotland.”
General Secretary of the STUC, Graeme Smith, added:
“The STUC strongly endorses the approach set out by the First Minister today. In this context it is important that the Scottish Government accelerates capital projects where feasible in order to support employment.
“The First Minister is also entirely justified in calling on the UK Government to act swiftly to help minimise the economic consequences of their calamitous handling of the referendum and its aftermath. The STUC looks forward to making a positive contribution as a member of the new Post Referendum Business Network.”
Christina further added:
“Both the Scottish Government and workers are fully behind the proposals to stimulate the Scottish economy.
“We must do all we can to ensure that our economy doesn’t suffer, hitting jobs and investment both in my constituency and across the country.
“It’s up to the UK Government to match the Scottish Government’s ambition and begin fixing this mess of their own making. Theresa May must take meaningful action to alleviate uncertainty and announce a UK wide stimulus, allowing the Scottish Government to do even more to secure jobs in Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse and beyond”.