Retiring Kilmarnock MP Des Browne launches attack on political opponents

Feb 5 2010 Kilmarnock Standard

OUTGOING MP Des Browne has launched a pre-election attack on the SNP.

Highlighting the latest unemployment figures, the Labour MP accused the Nationalists of neglecting the area.

He said: “Over a year ago, the SNP minister for enterprise, energy and tourism; Jim Mather MSP, promised that we would get a pan-Ayrshire jobs summit. This has never happened.

“He promised it after the Vesuvius closure – even before the devastating news about Johnnie Walker.

“The SNP shut down Scottish Enterprise Ayrshire; the organisation that was responsible for supporting and advising businesses here.

“Two years later there are few businesses left.

“The SNP have neglected this area.”

The latest unemployment statistics for East Ayrshire give a jobless total of 4229 – that’s 44 per cent lower than at the height of the recession in 1992 which the MP attributes to the efforts of the Labour government.

Said Mr Browne: “Despite the global recession we are experiencing unemployment figures in East Ayrshire lower than they were during the last recession when the Tories were in power.