Latest news with #AlanGemmell
Daily Record
3 days ago
- Business
- Daily Record
SNP and Labour spending row as Nationalists claim £100bn 'wasted' since general election
It comes after figures released earlier this week showed that £91.4bn in tax receipts was raised in Scotland last year, with £117.6 billion forked out in public spending. The SNP and Labour are in a spending row after the Nationalists claimed that the UK Government has wasted £100 billion since the general election. New SNP research says Labour has wasted the billions in lost revenues from tax evasion, Brexit, Private Finance Initiative (PFI) schemes, nuclear power stations and High Speed Rail 2 (HS2). But Labour hit back, saying "these back of a fag packet numbers are nonsense" and blasting the SNP for having "squandered that money and wasted millions on ferries which have never sailed and a prison which is ten times over budget". It comes after figures released earlier this week showed that £91.4bn in tax receipts was raised in Scotland last year, with £117.6 billion forked out in public spending. This means the Scotland spends £26bn - 11.6 per cent - more than it brings in via tax. The UK as a whole spends 5.1 per cent more than it brings in. SNP Scotland Office spokesperson Stephen Gethins said: 'The eye watering £100 billion figure is a combination of economic self-harm and incompetence – Westminster has truly become a Wastemonster. This £100 billion of Westminster waste exposes the raw reality of a Britain that is bust and broken – a Brexit Britain that Scotland is paying a heavier and heavier price for. 'From the crippling costs of being isolated outside the European Union, to the ongoing price of Labour's botched PFIs, to a Westminster system that treats economic development outside the South-East of England as an afterthought – Scotland's potential and our prosperity will always be wasted by Westminster. 'For years, Westminster politicians have lectured those of us in Scotland about sound financial management – this research gives £100 billion reasons why they are in no position to lecture our country on economic competence." The bulk of the alleged waste came from Brexit and tax avoidance. The Nationalists said that £46.8bn had been wasted on the tax gap - which is the difference between expected and actual tax collected by HMRC. The party also cited a recent reported from the Centre of European Reform think tank which said the lost tax revenue because of Brexit was £40bn. Labour MP for Central Ayrshire Alan Gemmell said: "In a week when the SNP's plans for £14bn of cuts to Scottish public services have been laid bare, these back of a fag packet numbers from John Swinney are nonsense. The Labour UK Government has provided more funding for Scotland than at any point in the history of devolution, £9.1bn extra over the next three years. "The SNP have squandered that money and wasted millions on ferries which have never sailed and a prison which is ten times over budget. Their incompetence has left 1 in 6 Scots on an NHS waiting list and 10,000 children in temporary accommodation." The cost of the Glen Sannox and Glen Rosa ferries rose to £460m earlier this year - more than four times the £97m contract. The new Barlinnie jail in Glasgow is set to cost £1bn, despite original estimates saying it would only be £100m.
The Herald Scotland
04-07-2025
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
Hundreds of jobs promised as airport lands Red Arrows deal
The company is developing a British-designed, built and assembled replacement for the Red Arrows training jet. The jets will be built by AERTEAM - a new alliance of seven UK aerospace companies brought together by Aeralis to build the nation's next-generation fast jet trainer. READ MORE: Central Ayrshire MP Alan Gemmell had urged Aeralis to choose Prestwick as the location for a proposed solution to the Hawk replacement. It is thought the programme could create between 200 and 400 local jobs, and the aircraft would be the first British jets built in 50 years. The announcement today revealed that up to 6,000 jets could be manufactured over the next 30-40 years. Organisers said they are now looking for commitment from the government for orders to release more funds into the project. The base at Prestwick would be a new build structure on the north side of the airport. The announcement of Prestwick as the final assembly line was revealed during a press conference at the airport on Friday, July 4.
The Herald Scotland
17-06-2025
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
Prestwick Airport chosen to host RAF refuelling fleet
Prestwick will be the fleet's short-term home for a number of months as resurfacing works are carried out at RAF Brize Norton in England. A contract valued at £1.2 million is set to be awarded to the airport as part of Project MACE, which is designed to keep the UK's refuelling operations going during the resurfacing. Upgrades at the airport will take place as part of the contract, including the installation of new concrete jacking pads. READ MORE: The Ministry of Defence said: 'Air Commercial, part of the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD), intends to award a contract to Glasgow Prestwick Airport (GPA) for the provision of services. "The estimated value of the contract is £750,000 with a proposed term of 36 weeks. This direct award is related to a larger programme of work, referred to as MACE. 'Only one airport, Glasgow Prestwick Airport, can meet all of the MoD's technical requirements. GPA is the only airport that could take seven Voyager aircraft. "All other airfields lack the necessary secure communications… others would require full runway reconstruction, again at significant time of several years.' The Ministry of Defence also confirmed that without Prestwick Airport, 'the Voyager fleet will be unavailable to support the Fast Jet fleet which critically defends UK airspace'. (Image: Peter Byrne) Work at Prestwick Airport is expected to begin next month and will last for 11 months, in preparation for the arrival of the Voyager fleet next summer. The announcement comes amidst hopes that Prestwick could also be the chosen venue for the next generation of Red Arrows aircraft to be built. Central Ayrshire MP Alan Gemmell has been working with British manufacturing scale-up Aeralis for months to convince them to choose Prestwick as their preferred site. The company is developing a British-designed, built and assembled replacement for the Red Arrows training jet. The jets would be built by AERTEAM - a new alliance of seven UK aerospace companies brought together by Aeralis to build the nation's next-generation fast jet trainer. Alan Gemmell MP (Image: Contributed) In the House of Commons recently, Mr Gemmell said: "I've spent some months convincing British scale-up Aeralis to choose Prestwick as their location for a proposed solution to the Hawk replacement, creating 4,000 jobs across the UK and the first British jet built in 50 years." Aeralis has confirmed that Prestwick remains on the shortlist, and that an announcement is expected "very soon". A spokesperson said: "Our aircraft modules will be built at AERTEAM sites across the UK and transported to a final assembly location (FAL) where they will come together as a complete aircraft ready for delivery to customers. "The final location for the UK FAL has yet to be announced. A shortlist, including Prestwick in Ayrshire, has been developed and Aeralis hopes to announce its selection very shortly."
Daily Record
09-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
Around 10,000 Ayrshire homes earmarked for faster broadband
The annoumcement is part of the UK government's Plan for Change investment. Close to 10,000 homes in Ayrshire are to gain access to lightning-fast broadband for the first time as part of £157million UK government investment. The news, part of the government's Plan for Change to boost economic growth has been welcomed by all four Ayrshire Scottish Labour MPs. The aim is to tackle digital exclusion across the entire UK and boosting local economic growth through giving businesses the vital tools they need, to improving access to public services like virtual NHS appointments. In a collective statement, MPs Alan Gemmell, Elaine Stewart, Irene Campbell and Lillian Jones said: 'This is brilliant news for people in North, South and East Ayrshire. Access to the internet is no longer a luxury, it is an essential way we live, work and learn in our everyday lives. 'I'm delighted homes across Ayrshire are set to benefit from the UK Labour Government making this investment, which will help families and grow our economy.' Secretary of State for Scotland, Ian Murray said: 'This £157 million UK Government investment is a game changer for tens of thousands of homes and businesses in the most remote areas of Scotland. 'Rolling out lightning-fast broadband will equip and inspire local businesses to thrive, enable families to access vital services, and build resilient communities. 'Our Plan for Change recognises that rural communities are the backbone of our nation and economic growth must reach every corner of Scotland, ensuring that opportunity isn't determined by postcode but by potential.' The deal was struck under an £800 million agreement with Openreach announced last August as part of wider plans to end the plight of digital exclusion across rural Britain, with work already underway to connect over 227,000 premises in hard-to-reach parts of Wales and England as part of the agreement. The agreement is funded by the UK government who will work alongside the Scottish Government and Openreach to deliver the coverage.
