Edinburgh Liberal Democrat MSPs hit out at Foulkes' hypocrisy

11.00.00am GMT Fri 27th Nov 2009

Edinburgh Liberal Democrat MSPs Mike Pringle and Margaret Smith have slammed Labour MSP George Foulkes' hypocrisy in failing to recognise the substantial impact that the budget deficit left by the previous Labour Council and the national recession caused by the UK Government has had on the Edinburgh's schools.

Their attack comes as the Labour MSP for the Lothian attacked Edinburgh City Council for the scale of potential service cuts proposed by council officers as they try to respond to a £30 million cut in the Council's budget next year and over each of the following two years. The budget cut was ordered by Labour Chancellor and Edinburgh MP Alistair Darling.

Edinburgh West MSP Margaret Smith said: "It is no surprise that Lord Foulkes has made a cheap jibe at Edinburgh's Council once again. The fact remains that the Council is still recovering from years of financially inept management by Labour and the £14 million black hole in the Children and Families Department they inherited from Labour.

'Given the current financial climate and the tight financial settlements from the SNP at Holyrood and Labour in Westminster, I applaud the Council's hard work to try to deliver the best education they can.'

Edinburgh South MSP Mike Pringle added: "This is just petty politicking from Lord Foulkes. Council's across Scotland have to make hard decisions and work with the available funds.

'People know that there have been budget cuts at both Westminster and Holyrood and these place enormous pressure on local authorities. Instead of singling out Edinburgh Council, why doesn't Mr Foulkes join us in holding the Scottish Government to account over its broken education promises?

'Just today it was announced that no primary schools in Edinburgh will be receiving funding under the current wave of the SNP's School Building Programme. These are the big issues and the ones that need our attention.'