Stirling Council Labour Group Leader Gerry McGarvey has criticised Scottish Government proposals to re-organise public services, describing them as “back of a fag packet” plans.
Proposals to cut councils and health boards
The Holyrood administration is calling for a reduction in the number of local authorities and wants to cut the number of health boards from 14 to two.
First Minister John Swinney has put forward the re-organisation plans, which have drawn a sharp response from Labour.
Labour leader speaks out
Cllr McGarvey said: “Stirling Council has been hammered by almost two decades of SNP and Green budget cuts from Holyrood so this latest Nationalist threat to local democracy sadly comes as no surprise.
“Our priority as Stirling Labour Councillors always has and always will be to defend the vital local public services that our communities rely on.
“We will be closely scrutinising the Scottish Government’s back of a fag packet proposals and we strongly encourage every local resident to do so likewise and make their views known.
“As socialists and trade unionists we will continue to fight for the people we represent here and the staff who work so hard on their behalf.”
Mixed political reaction
The SNP has expressed support for the re-organisation plans, while Labour has voiced opposition.
