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Labour stalwart clashes with Treasury minister      26/8/10

Danny Alexander, Chief Secretary to the Treasury, clashed with former Labour candidate Donald John Macsween at a public spending cuts review consultation meeting in Stornoway today.

Mr Alaxander’s two-hour whistle stop trip was squeezed in between the island's afternoon plane timetable.

At a session in the Western Isles Council chamber he immediately received an impassioned verbal onslaught from former Labour candidate and Point councillor Donald John Macsween

Mr Macsween slammed the Lib Dems for “a dramatic conversion ever seen since St Paul on the road to Damascus by jumping into bed with the Tories.”

He rebuked Mr Alexander for falling “hook, line and sinker for the Tory nonsense” that the public spending cuts was a result of the previous Labour administration and not the bankers

“People are angry” at bearing the brunt of the cuts, said Mr Macsween.

Mr Alexander retorted: "I didn't come here for a political row but for ideas and suggestions" insisting that Mr Macsween was “in denial" and Labour had let things out of control on their watch.

Fuel costs were a burden on the islands, he acknowledged, and the government was “working as hard as we can” on a trial fuel duty derogation which should mean lower prices.

He indicated that the outcome of the government spending clampdown was aimed to protect the poorest and most vulnerable in society, and on those regions dependent on the public sector.

It was stressed to him that the economy and jobs in the Western Isles were vulnerable to public budget cuts with many people employed by public bodies such as the council, health board and HIE. Other organisations like Qinetiq also rely upon government spending.

The severe constraint in exporting all the renewable electricity the islands are able produce prompted council leader Angus Campbell to urged for a review of energy regulator Ofcom as well as withdrawing higher charges for the Western Isles to supply the grid.

Later, at a behind-the-scenes discussion with council HIE, police and SNH representatives, Mr Alexander was urged to change the stranglehold the crown estate has on the seabed which cuts out benefit payments to local communities from marine energy developments.

The need for better and faster broadband was pressed upon him and the council indicated it would make a financial contribution for an improved network.

He was interested in an idea to adopt one large payroll system, and the possibility of using a single travel agency for the council and health board and other public bodies.

Council convenor Alex Macdonald said: “He was in listening mode. This was a fact-finding mission for him."