Breathtaking Hypocrisy as Labour Vote to deprive Good Causes of Cash

SNP Westminster Spokesperson on Culture, Media and Sport, Pete Wishart MP, has accused Scottish Labour MP's of appalling hypocrisy today (Tuesday) after voting though a UK Government motion to divert a further £675million of lottery funding from good causes to subsidise the London Olympics. Up to £184million will be lost by Scottish good causes as a result.

"The sight of Scottish Labour MP's voting away life-line funding for some of the most vulnerable and disadvantaged in society, indeed in their own constituencies, was truly unforgivable.  

"The reality of this lottery raid is that good causes in some of the poorest communities will be sacrificed to subsidise the spiralling cost of the London Olympics.

"For the past few weeks Scottish Labour have blubbed crocodile tears over a mythical threat to vulnerable groups. Today Scottish Labour MP's had their big chance to support the vulnerable and the marginalised, and they have been found wanting.

"Not one Scottish Labour MP voted against this lottery raid, and as a result they are now responsible for Scotland being deprived of some £184 million for good causes.

"On the day that Wendy Alexander visits Westminster, this indeed shows the true extent of Scottish Labours concerns about the weak, poor and disadvantaged, and their hypocrisy is simply breathtaking.

"Every time a Labour MSP now gets to their feet to repeat their fantasy concerns about the vulnerable they will be reminded that it was Labour MP's who voted to deprive Scotland's good causes of a very real £184 million."

ENDS