St Margaret’s: Time to end political one-upmanship and appoint Special Representative

Jackson Carlaw, Shadow Minister for Public Health and Scottish Conservative MSP for West of Scotland, has called on political parties to end what has become an unseemly game of political one-upmanship over the future of St Margaret of Scotland Hospice, and for the Health Secretary to appoint a Special Representative to facilitate dealings between the Hospice and the health board.

Jackson Carlaw MSP, who is leading for the Conservatives in this evening's members' debate on the future of St Margaret's, says:

"One of the unfortunate consequences of the cross party support for St Margaret's is that, of late, onlookers could be forgiven for observing something of an unseemly squabble over which party can portray itself as the most upset about the Hospice's longstanding predicament.

"Most recently this is seen with Labour, the Lib Dems, the SNP and then Labour again tabling similar motions in what could only be described as a thinly veiled game of political one-upmanship. This game has culminated with Jackie Baillie now proposed that, rather than choosing between St Margaret's or Blawarthill, both should be fully funded from the public purse regardless of ultimate demand. This idea is a complete non starter, and sadly typical of Labour's profligate use of taxpayers' money that has taken Britain to the brink of bankruptcy. MSPs must do better than this.

"Whilst other parties have chopped and changed policies and ramped up their rhetoric to try and out-flank each other, the Conservatives have remained true to our longstanding call for the Health Secretary to appoint a Special Representative to facilitate dealings between St Margaret's and the health board.

"The appointment of a Special Representative, who enjoys the confidence and goodwill of both parties, is essential if this seemingly interminable stalemate is ever to be brought to an end. Conservatives have consistently advocated this policy for well over a year now. I urge the Health Secretary to bring years of fruitless procrastination to an end, and act."

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