Moray MP Douglas Ross and Highlands and Islands MSP Jamie Halcro Johnston have expressed disappointment following a visit to Moray by Scottish Government Cabinet Secretary Derek Mackay MSP during which the minister failed to make any proposals to help support local public services.
Douglas said: “When we learnt that Derek Mackay was coming to Moray we said that he had to deliver more than just warm words to address the funding crisis facing Moray Council and NHS Grampian. Unfortunately, words are all we got. There was not a single commitment to do anything except for looking at the funding arrangements for local government across Scotland, which is what he said he would do months ago when a cross-party delegation from Moray met him to plead our case. I am afraid that this is simply not good enough.
“There is cross-party support for the Scottish Government to step-in and help save our local services in Moray, yet time and time again the SNP ignore our calls and instead concentrate their efforts on the central belt.”
Jamie said: “While Mr Mackay appeared to enjoy his visit to the new business park at Elgin, and reiterated previously announced Scottish Government support for the Moray Growth Deal, there were no new announcements at all. The Finance Minister has come and gone without making any commitment to help mitigate his government’s funding cuts and their impact on local services.
“The threats to public services in Moray are here and now. We have just seen a huge public demonstration on the Plainstones about the downgrading of maternity services at Dr Grays, and even the SNP leader of Moray Council, just a few days ago, warned of millions of pounds of cuts to come.
“There is growing public anger in Moray at how the SNP is treating the area. When is the Scottish Government going to actually do something to help?”