Fifers furious at Tavish Scott's Amazon attack
Liberal Democrat leader Tavish Scott has sparked fury after using a high-profile television debate to attack plans to bring more than 750 jobs to Dunfermline.
Tavish Scott and (below) the Amazon centre in Glenrothes.
- By David Clegg, political reporter
- Published in the Courier : 31.03.11
- Published online : 31.03.11 @ 11.29am
Speaking during the televised party leaders' debate, Mr Scott said he disagreed with spending public money to support internet giants Amazon in opening a base in the town.
It was announced in January that the company is to receive a total of £2.5 million from Scottish Enterprise to create 763 jobs in the Fife centre and a further 200 posts at its warehouse in Gourock.
During Tuesday's debate, Mr Scott insisted, "I think that money would be better spent on small Scottish indigenous businesses because a company like Amazon is taking business away from Scotland by their activities.
"I think there is a choice we can make to protect the Scottish economy."
First Minister Alex Salmond responded, "I suspect there are 900 people in Fife who might disagree with you."
Mr Scott's words were greeted with anger across Fife on Wednesday, as local Liberal Democrats have been supportive of the Amazon plan.
Alex Rowley, Labour's candidate for Dunfermline at the Holyrood election in May, said the comments "beggared belief," adding, "Amazon's presence in Fife has brought employment to the area and boosted the local economy.
"When times are hard Labour will focus on the things that matter like creating jobs and growing the economy."
SNP councillor and candidate for Mid Scotland and Fife Douglas Chapman said, "These are absolutely incredible remarks for a party leader to make. Hundreds of people in Dunfermline are looking forward to these new jobs coming to Fife and he is undermining the hopes of those people."
The row comes at a time when Dunfermline is the focus of a crunch election battle between the Lib Dems and Labour.
Boundary changes mean that Lib Dem candidate Jim Tolson is defending a notional majority of just 37 votes, while his party's poll ratings have plummeted following the Westminster coalition deal with the Tories.
Mr Tolson moved swiftly to distance himself from Mr Scott's comments, saying, "I have always welcomed Amazon's investment and I know that Tavish has done so as well.
"We need a good mix of smaller and larger businesses in the area. As I said at the time, I think this will be a springboard to bring more local and smaller businesses into the area."
And when contacted by The Courier on Wednesday, Mr Scott also appeared to backtrack on his initial position.
"Of course I support jobs from Amazon," he said. "My primary objective for Scotland is job creation.
"I welcomed Amazon's announcement but Scotland's industrial policy should be based more on public investment in growing Scottish business and less on multinationals who have a track record of moving regularly from country to country."
Mr Scott cited the example of the ill-fated Hyundai factory in Dunfermline, which never saw the light of day, despite a range of utilities being installed.
"Hyundai promised local jobs in exchange for public cash but didn't employ anyone locally," he said.
The Calais Muir South site — alongside the M90, near the junction with the A92 — will be Amazon's biggest centre in the UK.
The company will transfer around 100 staff from its site in Glenrothes, which Amazon leases, to the new Dunfermline base.
Employees there will distribute a range of items all over the world and also provide extra capacity for a wide selection of products.
07.15pm - 31.03.2011 fedupoftosh - Dundee, UK Report This
People will use Amazon irrespective oif where the warehouses are sited...so let's face it we are better having the jobs in Fife rather than London or Newcastle. Poor Tavish...remember when he tried to tell us that removing The Tay Bridge tolls would cause traffic jams in Dundee! Duh!!!
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