FM invited to Inverclyde to talk about jobs crisis
NEW First Minister John Swinney has been invited to Inverclyde in a bid to try and address the area’s jobs crisis and attract investment in the area.
Council leader Stephen McCabe wrote to Mr Swinney after he took office on Wednesday to congratulate him on his appointment and make a plea for more funding to address the area’s social and economic challenges.
Councillor McCabe has specifically asked Mr Swinney for greater support from the Scottish Government to help attract jobs to Inverclyde, following the announcement by telecoms giant EE that the company’s Greenock base will close later this year with around 450 jobs relocating to Glasgow.
That means around 1,200 jobs have been lost locally in the space of 18 months.
Mr McCabe said: “I have worked closely with John Swinney in the past, particularly in my previous role with COSLA, and I wish him the very
best in his new role as Scotland’s seventh First Minister.
“I know John has a lot of pressing issues at hand and his inbox will be packed already, however my priority is Inverclyde and ensuring the best for this area.
“We don’t have our challenges to seek in terms of health inequalities, alcohol and drug dependencies, and lack of employment opportunities and I’m sure John and his government share our desire to make improvements for existing residents and businesses and to create opportunities to attract more families and enterprises to the area.”
In his letter, Mr McCabe highlights how he wrote to the government last August, along with local MSP Stuart McMillan, requesting a package of financial support to help address the underlying economic challenges faced in the district.
His letter adds that ‘to date there has been no commitment to any funding’ and highlights how invitations to several ministers to visit Inverclyde and discuss these challenges have come to nothing.
The council leader also says that the transfer of the 450 EE jobs from one of the most deprived areas of Scotland to the country’s biggest city is ‘contrary to your government’s inclusive growth agenda’.
Mr McCabe said: “As a council, our powers and finances are limited and we need greater support from the Scottish Government to help make Inverclyde an even better place to live, work, visit, and do business and I would be delighted to welcome our new First Minister to Inverclyde to discuss how we can work together to deliver meaningful change.”