Embarrassment for MSPs who voted against policy they campaigned for!
You can't trust a word Labour say 

A raft of Labour politicians - including the Scottish Secretary Jim Murphy - are being challenged by SNP MSP Bob Doris to explain why their MSPs voted against the boiler scrappage scheme in this week's Scottish budget when a litany of websites and news items show they were previously campaigning for the policy.

In this week's budget the entire Labour group voted to oppose £2 million funding to support a boiler scrappage scheme on top of the £60 million which has already been invested in the Energy Assistance Package to tackle fuel poverty. The scheme would not only have helped address fuel poverty but provided jobs for plumbers and installers.

Mr Doris - a member of the Scottish Parliament's Communities and Local Government Committee - has published a list of Labour politicians previous support for the scheme including a prominent page on their very own Scottish website and the support of Scottish Secretary Jim Murphy.

Commenting Mr Doris said: "This is an incredible blunder for Labour and an embarrassment for their Scottish Secretary. Is it yet another example of the dysfunctional relationship between Iain Gray and Jim Murphy?

"Labour politicians across Scotland attempted to mislead the people and press alike by suggesting that the SNP was against this scheme.

"Instead they end up looking silly and petty by actually voting against it themselves when theSNP Government puts forward the funding.

"Those Labour MPs and MSPs who publicly campaigned for the scheme and scaremongered about it have quesions to answer.

"If it was so important as they were saying in press releases, articles and even a petition, why did they not support it in the budget?

"If they had succeeded in voting against the budget this scheme would have been delayed or even lost as we would have had to adopt last year's budget.

"Labour have to explain why they voted against a measure they said they supported."

Notes:

1. The SNP Government is committing in full the £2 million Barnett consequentials received as a result of UK Government expenditure on its boiler scrappage scheme to support the Scottish Energy Efficiency Action Plan which will be published in the Spring, bringing together existing schemes to replace inefficient boilers with broader energy efficiency measures.

The Scottish Government will receive approximately these consequentials in 2010 – 11 as a result of the UK Government’s announcement of an additional £20m on boiler scrappage as part of the Pre-Budget report.  We are committing this amount in full.

2. Labour support for the scheme can be read at the following links:

a. Labour's campaign for the scheme is still on their website and can be accessed from a link at their start page: http://www.scottishlabour.org.uk/cold

b. A Facebook page with several Labour supoorters was set up to support the campaign:

Don't let Salmond give us the cold shoulder- Scotland needs new boilers! http://www.facebook.com/group.php?v=info&gid=264300276042

c. Sarah Boyack tabled a motion in the Scottish Parliament which was supported by a significant number of their MSPs.

S3M-05491 Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Scottish Labour):
Scotland Needs Boiler Scrappage Scheme—
That the Parliament notes the launch of the Boiler Scrappage Scheme by the UK Government, a scheme that will offer a £400 incentive to encourage households to update inefficient boilers; further notes that the scheme will benefit up to 125,000 households in England, helping to reduce CO2 emissions while at the same time reducing fuel bills, and help to secure 250,000 jobs at small and medium companies that make, sell and install boilers; urges the Scottish Government to implement a similar scheme across Scotland, given the reported estimates of £11 million in Barnett consequentials being available, and considers that this decision would be of significant benefit to 12,000 homes in Scotland that would be eligible for such a scheme and would create jobs in the Scottish plumbing industry.

Supported by: Rt Hon George Foulkes, Claire Baker, Karen Gillon, Duncan McNeil, John Park, Johann Lamont, Dr Elaine Murray, Ken Macintosh, Mike Pringle, Patricia Ferguson, David Whitton, Elaine Smith, Cathy Peattie, Mary Mulligan, Rhona Brankin, Cathy Jamieson, Ms Wendy Alexander, James Kelly, Margaret Curran, Pauline McNeill, Dr Richard Simpson, Jackie Baillie, Lewis Macdonald, Marlyn Glen, Trish Godman, Richard Baker, Karen Whitefield, Rhoda Grant, Malcolm Chisholm, Peter Peacock

d. The following weblinks highlight Labour MSPs campaigning for the scheme:

Andy Kerr MSP http://www.eastkilbridenews.co.uk/lanarkshire-news/local-news-lanarkshire/local-news-east-kilbride/2010/01/27/east-kilbride-msp-backs-call-for-new-boiler-grants-68653-25689735/

David Whitton MSP http://www.eastdunbartonshirelabourparty.org.uk/Data%20MSPs/DW/Press%20Releases/MSP%20BACKS%20CALL%20FOR%20NEW%20BOILER%20GRANTS.doc

Wendy Alexander MSP http://www.wendyalexander.co.uk/news/paisley-daily-express-column/pde-column-25th-january-2010-boiler-scrappage-scheme-renfrewshire-budget-renfrew-ferry-labours-literacy-commission/

Sarah Boyack MSP http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/edinburgh/Exminister-Labour-minister-Sarah-Boyack.5988459.jp

Cathy Jamieson MSP http://www.cathyjamiesonmsp.co.uk/06012010---snp-leave-scotland-out-in-the-cold-on-grants-for-new-

George Foulkes MSP http://www.yourlothiansmsp.com/home/news/36

Elaine Murray MSP http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/colddumfriesandgalloway/

Bill Butler MSP http://billbutler.wordpress.com/2010/01/21/boiler-scrappage-scheme/

Cathy Peattie MSP http://cathypeattie.wordpress.com/2010/01/18/cathy-calls-for-boiler-grant-scheme-in-scotland/

Patricia Ferguson MSP http://www.patriciaferguson.labour.co.uk/patricia-ferguson-backs-call-for-new-boiler-grants

Karen Whitefield MSP http://karenwhitefield.com/?p=952

Karen Gillon MSP http://www.karengillon.co.uk/press-gallery.html#boil

e. The following weblinks highlight Labour MPs - including Jim Murphy - campaigning for the scheme:

Jim Murphy MP http://www.jimmurphymp.com/news.aspx?i_PageID=109990

Gordon Banks MP http://www.politics.co.uk/mps/press-releases/party-politics/labour/banks-calls-on-the-scottish-executive-to-introduce-boiler-scrappage-scheme-$1353238.htm

Mark Lazarowicz MP http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/Article.aspx/1549107?UserKey