TORY leadership candidates Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss have both been sent a letter calling on them to invest in Aberdeen.
MSP for Aberdeen Central Kevin Stewart has outlined the failures of past prime ministers to support the city, noting how the UK Government has provided less than one eighth of more than £1 billion invested in the area as it looks to transition towards a greener future.
While both the Scottish and UK governments invested £125 million in the 2016 City Region Deal, a further £254m of funding from Holyrood went unmatched.
The letter sent to both Truss and Sunak read: “After decades of Aberdeen supporting successive UK Governments with billions upon billions of pounds of revenue, the time has come for the UK Government to support Aberdeen.”
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Stewart did acknowledge the UK Government’s contribution to Aberdeen but that it was a “great disappointment” they were unable to invest as much as the Scottish Government.
The letters continued: “In a little over a year’s time people living in Aberdeen will get to have their say on Scotland’s future, and whether their interests are best served with independence or within the United Kingdom.
“I have little doubt during that time, if you are leading the UK Government, you will not hesitate to talk about how valued Aberdeen is within the Union.
“Might I suggest, if you wish to be taken seriously when saying this, that one of your first actions as prime minister needs to be a substantial investment in Aberdeen and in a Just Transition.”
This comes as a group of demonstrators set up camp in Aberdeen to protest the reliance on oil and gas.
Commenting on his decision to send the letters, Stewart said that “prime minister after prime minister” had not shown the city the support it needed.
He continued: “So far, the two candidates vying to be the next PM appear to be much of a muchness.
“I am yet to hear anything from either of them that suggests they will deliver for my constituents, so I have written to them to tell them how to do that.
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“I hope that whoever is in 10 Downing Street next will invest in a prosperous future for Aberdeen. Our city cannot afford to be failed by yet another UK Prime Minister.”
Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss are set to go head to head over the next few months to decide who will become the new leader of the Conservative Party.
The result of the election will be announced on September 5.
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