A TORY MSP has prompted outrage after he accused an SNP politician of a letter-writing “stunt” over concerns linked to the Foreign Office leaving its East Kilbride base.
Graham Simpson, an MSP for Central Scotland, accused Collette Stevenson, the constituency MSP for the area, of indulging in “antics” regarding the move by David Cameron’s department.
It came as Stevenson led a member’s debate on the decision by the UK Government department to move its offices from East Kilbride to Glasgow.
Speaking in the chamber on Wednesday evening, Stevenson called on the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) to “see sense” and reverse its decision to move staff out of the town.
During her speech, Stevenson said that Scottish Secretary Alister Jack (below), Tory defector Lisa Cameron, and regional MSP Graham Simpson had not replied to correspondence on the matter almost a month after the decision was announced.
SNP MSPs could be heard shouting “shame” in response to her comments, where she accused Tory politicians of seemingly “losing their voice” after previously calling for jobs to remain in the area.
In response, Simpson said he “did not respond to stunts” and said the SNP MSP should have spoken to him in his parliamentary office instead.
Opening the debate, Stevenson said she hoped that Tory politicians had “reflected” over the Christmas break and recognised the concerns of workers in the department.
“After the department headed by the unelected Lord David Cameron made its decision, I wrote to Graham Simpson MSP and other unelected Tory, Lisa Cameron MP, to ask if they stood by previous remarks that FCDO should stay in East Kilbride.
“I also wrote to Alister Jack, Secretary of State, seeking assurances, I’ve received nothing back from any of them.”
Stevenson hit out at the UK Government for the “reckless decision” that, according to its own figures, will cost the East Kilbride economy £30 million.
In response, Simpson admitted he was “not delighted” by the move but still sought to defend the decision, claiming that it was made due to HMRC’s lease running out at a different building.
The Tory MSP then turned to Stevenson’s jibe over his lack of response to her letter, to the fury of the SNP benches who could be heard jeering.
“The only contact from within the constituency that I’ve had unfortunately is the letter previously referred to by Collette Stevenson, which was frankly a stunt,” he said.
“I don’t respond to stunts. If Collette Stevenson…”
Simpson paused after shouting from SNP benches and then said Stevenson should have “popped along” to his office instead.
“I don’t respond to stunts like that, which is why I’ve not responded to her letter,” he added.
“She could have just come and spoken to me as she has done on many other occasions.
“Fortunately I have spoken to the town’s Conservative MP Lisa Cameron who has not indulged in such antics, we have both been in discussions … with the FCDO.
“I have spoken personally to the [Foreign Office Minister] Andrew Mitchell. We will work, and I’m quite happy to work with Collette Stevenson if she wants to do it properly.”
The Scottish Parliament cameras then cut to Stevenson who had her mouth open in shock at Simpson’s comments.
Earlier, SNP MSP Clare Adamson (below) intervened during Simpson’s contribution to point out that UK Government jobs in East Kilbride were lauded as a “jewel in the crown” of the Union during the 2014 referendum campaign.
Simpson claimed it was an “unfortunate intervention” from Adamson that he claimed showed “precious little knowledge of what’s going on here because there are no job losses suggested”.
He then claimed there would be “more jobs”, and that they were “merely” moving them to Glasgow.
We told how Labour-led South Lanarkshire Council were left “astounded” by the news of the department’s move – after they found out about it through a trade magazine.
