PRIME MINISTER SHOULD APOLOGISE FOR COASTGUARD BLUNDER
PRIME MINISTER SHOULD APOLOGISE FOR COASTGUARD BLUNDER
Local MP Russell Brown has called on Prime Minister David Cameron to apologise for raising false hope that coastguard stations earmarked for closure may have a reprieve. He sent a letter to coastguard campaigners stating that the stations that are planned to start closing in 13 weeks would remain open until 2015.
After campaigners were left hopeful that the Prime Minister’s comments meant that Government policy had changed, the Government has now confirmed that David Cameron’s statement was in error and the closures will continue as planned.
Dumfries and Galloway has over 200 miles of coastline and is served by maritime rescue and coordination centres (MRCCs) in Liverpool and on the Clyde. However, the UK Government is closing both centres, which means the years worth of local knowledge will be lost.
Dumfries and Galloway MP Russell Brown said:
“This blunder speaks volumes about the incompetence of this Government and how little the Prime Minister understands about the dangers of the Tory coastguard cuts. His statement raised hopes that maybe the Government was finally seeing sense. But that has now been shot down in flames with the confirmation that the Prime Minister got it wrong. It is incomprehensible that such a mistake was made with something so important.
“The Government is shutting down both the stations that cover Dumfries and Galloway’s coastline. The local knowledge that has been built up over years will be lost forever. They are literally playing with lives here, and yet the Prime Minister seems clueless.
“The Prime Minister should apologise for his mistake, but more importantly he should call off his Government’s reckless cuts.”
ENDS
CONTACT – ANDREW MACKENZIE 07769206856
NOTES TO EDITORS
1. David Cameron responded to a letter by a constituent working on behalf of campaign group Coastguard SOS stating that “those centres that are planned for closure will remain open until 2015″.
2. More info: http://www.google.com/
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