MSP blasts council after standing down as project chairman

Local MSP Iain Gray has stood down as chairman of the East Lothian Care and Accommodation Project with an attack on East Lothian Council’s plans to put services for people with learning disabilities out to tender.

He said: “These services do not have to be tendered and they should not be. There is no evidence that it produces better services and every reason to believe it is just a cost cutting exercise.

“I know that public funds are tight, but it should not be the most vulnerable people in our community who pay the price.

“East Lothian Council’s proposal to tender these services has caused much concern among those who use ELCAP’s services, and their families.

Pressures

“They fear that carers will be changed and service hours reduced.”

Mr Gray, Scottish Labour Party Leader, resigned from the post at ELCAP’s annual general meeting on Saturday due to pressures on his time.

Councillor Ruth Currie, cabinet spokesperson for adult social care, said: “I find it totally irresponsible of Mr Gray to use the very people he claims he is supporting to make this cheap politically driven attack.”