East Kilbride MSP blasts Tories 'contempt' for local Foreign Office workers as debate is set for new year

dailyrecord.co.uk:

East Kilbride MSP Collette Stevenson has succeeded in bringing about a debate in Parliament to highlight “disastrous” plans for removing over 1000 civil service jobs from the town.As we reported last week, the decision, announced with no prior consultation or engagement with Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) staff at Abercrombie House, was made to shocked staff on December 7.The FCDO told its 1000-strong workforce, with only an hour’s advance notice to union representatives, that it will be leaving East Kilbride in 2025 for a new city centre site in Glasgow.HMRC are set to become the new tenants of Abercrombie House.The Lanarkshire Live app is available to download now.

Get all the news from your area – as well as features, entertainment, sport and the latest on Lanarkshire’s recovery from the coronavirus pandemic – straight to your fingertips, 24/7.The free download features the latest breaking news and exclusive stories, and allows you to customise your page to the sections that matter most to you.Head to the App Store and never miss a beat in Lanarkshire - iOS - Android Ms Stevenson blasted the move by the UK Government after having promised more jobs for the area and described the news as a “hammer blow” to the town and local economy.

Her motion has now received cross party support and is being put forward for a debate early in the new year.The MSP also challenged the town’s MP Lisa Cameron – who defected from the SNP to the Conservatives – to speak up for her constituents, at one point describing the silence from the Tories as “deafening”.She said: “I have written to both Graham Simpson MSP and Lisa Cameron MP to ask if they still support the FCDO Headquarters staying in the town and have not had the