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Raw deal again for Glasgow |
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Saturday, 26 November 2005 |
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Once again Glasgow is to get a raw deal from Central
Government. Only a 2% increase is being given in funding
while neighbouring East Renfrewshire is to get 5.9%. And in
fact all councils are needing help to fund the Equal Pay claim of lower
paid workers.
John Mason, the SNP Group Leader, said "If this is a case of Labour
politicians at Holyrood trying to score points in their personal
vendetta against Labour in Glasgow, then it stinks. Why
should this City be treated as a political football by factions within
the Labour Party? It is universally accepted that Glasgow
has huge social needs, has to provide national services for the whole
of Scotland, and on top of that is struggling to pay lower paid women
what they deserve. Now it looks like there will be serious
choices between cuts in services or Council Tax hikes. The
SNP will oppose both of these. As long as the unfair
Council Tax remains, Holyrood and Westminster governments must be
prepared to fund the extra burdens they put on local
authorities. Equal Pay is only the latest in a long line of
(often good) legislation which has not been properly thought through
and funded."
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