Na h-Eileanan an Iar Angus MacNeil says Labour’s manifesto launch today is a ‘damp squib’ and offers nothing to the people of the islands.
Commenting Mr MacNeil said:
“All we hear from Labour is the word ‘Change’ and in the best traditions of Blair and new Labour and all the emptiness of that, the word ‘Change’ today means nothing.
“They don’t want to change Brexit; they don’t want to change Tory spending plans, and they certainly don’t want any change for Scotland.
“The future ahead of us with another Brexiteer austerity charged party, is nothing but bleak.
“While our neighbours around us charge on ahead, Scotland will be left in the slow lane.
“Even the spending plan Labour have is merely rearranging the deck chairs as money will be stiffened through the Scottish Office as opposed to the Levelling Up office.
“In the meantime, we are going to find ourselves with millions less than we had from European money, but the Brexiteer Labour aren’t telling you this, they aren’t being straight with the public.
“There are certainly not being straight with the word change, there is not even small change coming from the millions that we’ve lost.
“Comhairle nan Eilean Siar estimate that in the 10 years after Brexit, £12.5 million will be lost to the islands’ economy from European structural funds.
“The Labour manifesto is a sham and a con and Labour certainly need their feet held to the fire as they will inevitably be the next Government.
“Back bench Labour MPs who are nodding dogs will not serve democracy well.
“I believe that I’ve got the experience to do exactly that and to hold Labour’s feet to the fire.”
