Glasgow council leader attacks east coast bias after Clyde fails in freeport bid
dailyrecord.co.ukThe leader of Glasgow city council has demanded to know why the Clyde lost out in the race to win freeport status.Susan Aitken has written to John Swinney and Michael Gove to question why "a major investment is going entirely to one side of Scotland".The UK and Scottish Governments made a joint announcement last week to confirm that two special economic zones would be created along the Firth of Forth and the Cromarty Firth.The new freeports will be able to offer tax incentives and lower tariffs and are expected to create thousands of jobs - but have been branded a "Thatcherite con" by critics.The Clyde bid - which covered several local authority areas - was one of three to lose out in the process.Aitken said: "I accept that the freeports decision has been made but investing entirely on the east coast isn’t Levelling Up. "In fact, the decision not only bypasses the engine room of Scotland’s economy but also those communities where the need for Levelling Up is deeper and more acute than practically anywhere else in the UK."This decision risks creating further disadvantage across the Glasgow city region and that’s a significant problem which both governments need to address. "Whatever the opinions on freeports, and I accept there are a number, this is a major investment going entirely to one side of Scotland."Yet here in the Glasgow City Region we’ve a proven track record in delivering projects with real social, economic and regeneration outcomes.
In the face of other areas being handed a competitive advantage, it’s all the more vital that both governments work with us to make sure that progress isn’t rolled back but built upon."The Forth bid was led by Forth Ports which owns and operates seven ports including Leith and
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