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Parties come to blows over Olympic funding |
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Wednesday, 16 January 2008 |
The Scottish Government and the Labour Party have come to blows over funding for the London Olympics, with Labour being accused of "hypocrisy" and the SNP of being "narrow-minded".
The SNP's Westminster spokesman on culture, media and sport, Pete
Wishart, accused Scottish Labour MPs of "appalling hypocrisy" after
they voted though a UK Government motion to divert a further £675m of
lottery funding from good causes to subsidise the London Olympics. Up
to £184m will be lost by Scottish good causes as a result, said
Wishart.
"The sight of Scottish Labour MPs voting away life-line funding for
some of the most vulnerable and disadvantaged in society, indeed in
their own constituencies, was truly unforgivable.
"The reality of this lottery raid is that good causes in some of the
poorest communities will be sacrificed to subsidise the spiralling cost
of the London Olympics.
"For the past few weeks Scottish Labour have blubbed crocodile tears
over a mythical threat to vulnerable groups. Today Scottish Labour MPs
had their big chance to support the vulnerable and the marginalised,
and they have been found wanting."
However, Labour's Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport James Purnell slammed the SNP's position.
"The SNP's narrow-minded decision to oppose the Olympics will be a
disappointment to the young Scottish athletes who dream of winning
Olympic gold in 2012. The Nationalists have put their opposition to
Britain above the ambitions of Scottish sportsmen and women. The SNP's
credibility with the sporting world is in tatters."
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