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Lib Dems vow to rethink job move policy

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Published Date: 26 February 2007
AN overhaul of the Scottish Executive's controversial relocation policy which has seen thousands of jobs moved out of Edinburgh will be promised in the Liberal Democrats' manifesto for the Holyrood elections.
The party believes the original intention of dispersing public sector jobs to all parts of Scotland has been undermined by Government decisions to shift many agencies along the M8 from the Capital to Glasgow.

Now the Lib Dems want "geographic targeting" of jobs, possibly involving quotas.

The relocation policy is expected to be heavily criticised by the Scottish Parliament's audit committee, which took the unprecedented step of calling Environment Minister Ross Finnie to give evidence on the forced transfer of Scottish Natural Heritage from Edinburgh to Inverness.

The move, which was opposed by staff, unions, local politicians and the quango's own board, cost £27 million and resulted in 80 per cent of staff refusing to go.

The next potential target for relocation is the new culture quango, Creative Scotland, to be created by the merger of the Edinburgh-based Scottish Arts Council and Glasgow-based Scottish Screen.



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1

Deek,

26/02/2007 12:23:15

Oh hark, the clutching at straws party have an idea, wonder who gave them it.

2

Tomsk,

On the Wings of a Dove 26/02/2007 13:09:41

An absolutely pitiful attempt by the Scottish PlaceSeekers Party to crack open some blue sky between itself and the (West of Scotland) Labour Party. Their representative in Holyrood have supported this failed policy throughout the lifetime of the parliament and now they are diving for cover with the election coming up.

Let me guess! Canvassing has been throwing up a few issues, perchance?

3

Immutable Name,

of Toll-X 26/02/2007 13:40:33

Anyone remember the SNH fiasco?
Would Ross Finnie please stand up?
Remind us what party he stands for...
Hypocrisy on a grand scale.

4

I'm no really here,

26/02/2007 14:12:37

Given the article over the weekend with "Hurricane Jeck" announcing the same thing, is this a case of the tail following the dog.

5

Matt M,

Edinburgh 26/02/2007 15:10:01

The cheek of the Lib Dems knows no bounds. Not only was it Lib Dem Minister Ross Finnie who pushed through SNH relocation but who is the current Minister actually responsible for the relocation policy? Stand up another Lib Dem Minister George Lyon. You can read the Lib Dems like a book - it was reported at the weekend that Labour was halting the policy and low and behold the Lib Dems want the credit when they realise it might be popular. I don't know why Labour let these political parascites away with it.


 

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