MacDonald questions Labour's comments on Gaelic budget

MacDonald questions Labour’s comments on Gaelic budget

SNP Councillor Angus MacDonald, Convener of last year’s successful Royal National Mod Organising Committee in Falkirk has commented on remarks made yesterday by Labour’s Depute Finance Spokesperson David Whitton MSP, on BBC Good Morning Scotland where he opposed the funding proposed for the Gaelic language in the Scottish Government's draft budget, announced this week.

The Scottish Government announced an extra £4 million for Gaelic development as an initiative that prioritises the creation of a new generation of Gaelic speakers and promotes the use of Gaelic through education, the arts and in Scottish public life generally. The new initiative will ensure that the funding for Gaelic is used effectively to create a secure future for the language.

However, David Whitton complained about a £ 4 million increase for Gaelic and insisted it was wrong.

Commenting Councillor Angus MacDonald, who is also chairman of the Falkirk & District Gaelic Forum, which was formed following the success of last year’s Royal National Mod in Falkirk said :

“Labour’s lukewarm attitude, at both local and national level, to one of our national languages is very disappointing indeed. The Gaelic language and culture has had to fight negativity for centuries, and unfortunately we still find that negativity alive and well in today’s Labour party.

“Indeed locally the Falkirk & District Gaelic Forum has been campaigning vigorously for the position of a Gaelic Development Officer to be created within the Council to develop local opportunities for the language and draw down funding which already exists at a national level, however this unfortunately has met with some opposition from the ruling Labour / Tory administration in Falkirk, who have failed to recognise the benefits of raising the profile of Gaelic language and culture locally.”

“Sadly, this attitude has been echoed at a national level by Labour’s depute finance spokesperson. If Mr Whitton thinks that he can plug a £500 million hole which Labour have cut into Scotland's budget by shaving a couple of million pounds of spending on the Gaelic language he is blinkered and deluded..

"Rather than making a display of his ignorance by having a go at an important part of Scotland's cultural heritage he might do well to remember just why it is that this year's budget is so tight in Scotland - because Labour ministers in London have slashed the money which Scotland has to spend.”

“The SNP Group on Falkirk Council received an assurance from Council officers at last week’s Leisure, Tourism and Community Committee that a report on the possibility of employing a Gaelic or Cultural Development Officer would be presented to the next Committee in November, and we look forward to the ruling Labour / Tory administration in Falkirk hopefully having a change of heart with regard to supporting this initiative.”

“The demand is out there and the majority of funding is available from external sources, so I fail to see why this initiative can not enjoy cross-party support.”