Glasgow Labour accused of playing politics with people's lives

Glasgow SNP Health Spokesman, Councillor Graeme Hendry, today slammed Steven Purcell for deliberately hiding from debate on the minimum pricing of alcohol: “My motion today sought to draw together those who support the proposal to introduce minimum pricing for alcohol.  Experts from across justice, the medical profession and wider society have come together to support the principle being developed by the Scottish Government – as did Steven Purcell at the launch of his Health Commission report earlier this year.

“Today, the Liberal Democrats and Greens in Glasgow backed the case for minimum pricing, while Labour chose to go against their Glasgow leader and follow the Scottish Labour line.

“Like the SNP, Lib Dems, Greens and expert advice, academic evidence from the University of Sheffield and Edinburgh back the case, as does a response from the European Commission on the legality of the policy.

“The refusal to debate, but return to vote down the motion smacks of hypocrisy by Labour’s leader in Glasgow.  It is disappointing to see that the health and wellbeing of the people of Glasgow come before the profits of big business and the wishes of Labour in Holyrood."

Notes:

Cllr Hendry’s motion reads:

"Council notes with concern the high and disproportionate impact the misuse of alcohol has on Glasgow's citizens and welcomes the committment of national and local Governments to tackle this.

Whilst Council notes there is no one answer to tackle this problem it welcomes the principle of minimum pricing which has an important role to play in tackling the misuse of alcohol in Glasgow."

Labour submitted an amendment, to say:

"Council is aware of the Scottish Government’s preferred option of minimum pricing but is concerned these proposals are flawed and untested."

The motion was  For Motion - 25; For Amended Motion - 39; Abstained - 0. The amended motion was carried.

The unamended motion was supported by the Liberal Democrat Group and the Green Group.

Councillor Purcell, in response to questions from the floor at the launch of the Glasgow Health Commission report at the Pearce Institute on Tuesday the 24th of August 2009, said he had been won over by the arguments for minimum pricing.