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Macsween slammed for “childish conspiracy theories” 22/6/09
The Western Isles MP and MSP have hit out at the Labour party’s candidate after he claimed they had advance notice that the rocket range was to be scaled down but failed to mobilise a protest.
In a joint statement Angus Macneil, MP, and Mr Alasdair Allan, MSP, condemned Donald John Macsween.
They said: “Judging by his comments today in an news article on the Hebrides News website, the Labour candidate, Mr Macsween, has regrettably chosen to make a partisan issue out of the decision by the MOD and QinetiQ to axe 125 jobs in the Western Isles.
“Normally we would both ignore this, as the issue is too important for petty squabbles.
“However, his charges that somehow the local MSP and MP were "in on this" decision is laughable and offensive and, more importantly, deeply unhelpful to the campaign to save the jobs.
“Firstly, the MOD spokesperson who suggested to the meeting in Balivanich that the MSP and MP should "not have been surprised" at the announcement, because we had supposedly been told about the decision on a recent tour of the bases, has unreservedly apologised to us.
“Not only were we not told, but in the case of the MSP, he has never had a tour of the base since he was elected, and we have certainly never been given any inside information.
“In fact it has been extremely difficult for us to get clearance from QinetiQ to visit the site or discuss its future, despite efforts in that regard.
“Rumours were heard in circulation in Uist the day or so before the announcement
leaked out -
“And as Mr Macsween well knows, the reason we could not attend the Wednesday meetings in Balivanich was because our respective parliaments were in session those days.”
They highlighted: “Both of us nonetheless raised the subject of job losses in Westminster and Holyrood and, as Mr Macsween will be aware, at Holyrood, were heckled by Labour members for doing so.
“Between us we have met with HIE, the Comhairle, Government Ministers, Storas Uibhist and many members of the community regarding this and to pledge our support and assistance to this campaign, which should transcend local election campaigns.
“But that's enough of the politics, and I hope that's enough of the conspiracy theories from Mr Macsween.”
They stressed: “We all have to work together for the future of jobs in Uist, and I hope that the above childish and inaccurate claims we find ourselves having to put straight will be the last of their kind, as I sense there is little patience in Uist for such antics at the moment.”