SNP MPs have accused the UK Government of "buying DUP votes" by allocating cash to help Belfast following a major city blaze while failing to provide funding for Glasgow, also hit by fires this year.
The Chancellor announced £2 million to help the Northern Irish city recover after the historic Banks Building was gutted in August, leaving several businesses unable to trade.
However his Budget contained no similar funding for Glasgow following a second disastrous blaze at the city's art school in June, and the Victoria's Nightclub fire in the same area in March.
READ MORE: Hammond's meaningless Budget hasn't brought an end to austerity
The Conservatives depend on the DUP's 10 MPs to give it a majority in the House of Commons.
Glasgow Central MP Alison Thewliss said: "I wrote to the Chancellor last month to plead for a VAT exemption for businesses affected and for buildings in need of repair, as well as investment to regenerate the area, in the wake of the dreadful fire – it's clear from the UK Government Budget that those pleas fell on deaf ears.
READ MORE: Glasgow School of Art architects saycontractors should have safeguarded building
"It's hardly surprising that Belfast will benefit from regeneration funding in the wake of the Bank Buildings fire – the the Tories are too busy buying DUP votes by investing in Belfast, whilst completely ignoring those in similar circumstances in Glasgow.
"When cash can be found to help regenerate Belfast but not Glasgow, it proves that the UK Government hold my constituents in contempt in its use of brazen political back-handers."
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel