THE Chancellor is being urged to step in with financial support to Glasgow after two massive fires there this year severely hit shops and businesses.
Philip Hammond is being asked to give extra cash to the city after unveiling £2 million for Belfast to help retailers recover following a blaze which ruined one of its historic buildings this summer.
Alison Thewliss, the SNP MP, and Paul Sweeney, the Labour MP, both made the call following the cash announcement for Northern Ireland’s main city in the Budget on Monday.
Despite two devastating fires on Sauchiehall Street this year – the second of which devastated Charles Rennie Mackintosh’s masterpiece the Glasgow School of Art – the UK Government did not announce any funding to go towards regeneration of the area.
David Mundell, the Scottish Secretary, has also come under fire for his refusal to support calls for a public enquiry into the blaze.
Experts have estimated that the rebuilding of the iconic Glasgow landmark could cost more than £100million. In July, the Scottish Government announced that would make up to £5million available to Glasgow City Council, to support businesses affected by the fires at the Glasgow School of Art Mackintosh Building in June and at Victoria’s nightclub in March.
“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,” said Thewliss, who represents Glasgow Central.
“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.”
She added: “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. The Tories think they can do whatever they like to Scotland and get away with it.”
Following the £2m announcement for Belfast, Sweeney tweeted: “Where is the equivalent extra funding for Glasgow in the wake of the Art School disaster and Sauchiehall Street fire damage, @DavidMundellDCT? I am sure the people of Glasgow would like to know. @SaveSauchiehall”.
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