Dundee SNP

SNP MP and Treasury Spokesman Stewart Hosie today called for Gordon Brown to apologise to Scotland for the financial mess created under the Labour government as he published a briefing on Brown’s responsibility for the financial crisis.

Mr Hosie, MP for Dundee East, commented ahead of an appearance by Gordon Brown in Dundee and as former Labour MP Brian Wilson laid the blame for the current crisis firmly at the Labour Government’s door.

Writing on where responsibility for the UK financial sectors problems lies former Labour Energy Minister Brian Wilson wrote:

“It was not Salmond who gave them knighthoods and appointed them seamlessly to one elevated public position after another……That distinction lies with the Labour Government which has never been good at recognising character flaws if they are disguised by enough layers of money.”

Mr Hosie said:

“The evidence is stacking up aainst Culpability Brown and Labour continue to refuse to take responsibility.

“Until recently the main charge against Gordon Brown was his role as Chancellor in the decade when many of the cracks in the financial sector developed.

“Now with evidence of Brown’s years of irresponsibility stacking up it is time for him to apologise to Scotland for the problems he has brought to our economy.

“As Brian Wilson acknowledges Gordon Brown’s economic policy was struck by the sight of the city’s money and has now come home to roost.

“Where the Scottish Government is taking responsibility for businesses and families by freezing council tax, investing in jobs and skills, keeping people in their homes and abolishing business rates completely for many of our small and medium sized businesses Gordon Brown has said a lot and delivered little.

“Employees at HBOS and Lloyds fear job losses as a result of his politically motivated merger, homeowners have still to get access to Labour’s promised mortgage protection scheme and the business guarantee
scheme is widely reported to be failing.

“With plans to cut a billion pounds from Scotland’s budget in the next two years Labour are not only responsible for the recession they are hindering Scotland’s economic recovery.

“With the full powers and responsibilities of an independent nation Scotland would be far better placed to stimulate our economy now and build a better and more prosperous future for all.”

HAS HE FORGOTTEN HIS ROLE AS ENTERPRISE MINISTER?

Commenting on Iain Gray’s attack at First Minister’s Questions today SNP MSP Joe FitzPatrick – a member of the Scottish Parliament’s Finance Committee – said the Labour leader had blundered badly with his choice of subject since Fred Goodwin had been closely associated with Gordon Brown for over 10 years and it has even been reported that Fred Goodwin was knighted on the advice of Gordon Brown.

He also failed to realise that his former boss, Alistair Darling, accepted in the House of Commons that Fred Goodwin’s pension was considered by the Government but that it did not understand the arrangements.

Commenting Mr FitzPatrick said:

“This was an incredible own goal by Iain Gray. In his attempts to smear he forgot about his party’s open flank as concerns Fred Goodwin – namely the close links between Gordon Brown and Fred Goodwin.

“By taking this tack Iain Gray has just shown how Westminster has a great burden of responsibility for the financial crisis we face.

“If Iain Gray wants people to resign over Fred Goodwin perhaps he should look to Gordon Brown who appointed him as an advisor and reportedly suggested Fred Goodwin for a knighthood?

“Perhaps he can also explain why his former boss – Alistair Darling – admitted that Fred Goodwin’s pension was considered by the Government?

“Iain Gray hasn’t got a leg to stand on concerning the financial crisis. Since Gordon Brown is so keen to say it all started in America does Iain Gray regret inviting American financial businesses to invest in Scotland in 2002?

“It seems strange that Iain Gray and the Labour party are trying to re-write history when last October their financial mismanagement once again implicated them in the arrangements that have led today’s reports about Fred Goodwin.”

SNP Treasury spokesman Stewart Hosie MP, today (Monday) mocked the Prime Minister for suggesting that this recession, which has already seen unemployment hit almost two million is the “the difficult birth-pangs of a new global order”.

Mr Hosie said:

“This is meaningless rubbish. Gordon Brown’s remarks are typical New Labour speak – just spin to deflect any criticism of the man who was at the financial helm of the UK for a decade.

”These are not ‘birth-pangs’ so much as the death throes of a failed Labour government.

“Gordon Brown might be better answering why he allowed a credit bubble during his tenure as Chancellor or why debt levels were so high that the recession can now only be fought by doubling the national debt to over £1 trillion.

“The tens of thousands of people losing their jobs are looking for help now, as are the businesses who are still struggling to get credit from the banks yet all Gordon Brown can do is spout nonsense about ‘new global orders’.”

BROWN DITHERED WHILE OTHER COUNTRIES ACTED

Speaking after Prime Ministers Questions today (Wednesday), during which Mr Brown claimed that “[he]…not only saved the world…”, SNP Treasury spokesperson, Stewart Hosie MP, mocked the Prime Minister’s claims and highlighted the actions taken by other countries to bring forward economic stimulus packages happened well before Gordon Brown initiated any help.

Mr Hosie said:

”Despite his boasts, crash Gordon is no saviour of the universe.

”Indeed while other countries were moving forward with fiscal packages to stimulate their economies, Gordon Brown was dithering. Far from ‘leading’ the world he has had to follow it.

”It is time the Prime Minister stopped strutting the international stage in his attempts to pull the wool over people’s eyes. It’s time he put our own economy centre stage. For a start he should release the £1bn of Scottish resources being withheld by the Treasury, and rule out the £1bn cuts Labour plans to the Scottish Budget.

“The Scottish Government is doing everything it can within its powers by delivering a six-point plan to help families and business. We’ve put more money back in people’s pockets with a council tax freeze and lowering prescription charges; and we’ve put more money back into high street businesses with our small business bonus.

“By failing to do so Gordon Brown is showing that he is falling behind the action the rest of the world is taking.”