TOP police official Calum Steele has set the LibDems straight on their criticism of the Scottish Government over the creation of Police Scotland.
LibDem Justice Spokesperson Liam McArthur hit out at the SNP ahead of his party's motion of no confidence in Police Scotland being debated in Holyrood today.
Steele, general secretary of the Scottish Police Federation, tore apart McArthur's arguments on Twitter.
I really like @Liam4Orkney but putting his name to this crud doesn’t square with the sensible pragmatic bloke I know. Let’s have a look at each of these things in turn https://t.co/E9aDwQq1OT pic.twitter.com/2H74MHkG4j
— Calum Steele (@CalumSteeleSPF) December 6, 2017
Budget black hole - there are many reasons the police face this “budget black hole” but without any shadow of doubt two of the biggest sit squarely with the LibDems.
— Calum Steele (@CalumSteeleSPF) December 6, 2017
Before the usual “ah but it’s the Scottish Government who decide how much to spend on services in Scotland” brigade dust off their faux outrage have a look at this pic.twitter.com/xhq8ffLyo2
— Calum Steele (@CalumSteeleSPF) December 6, 2017
These cuts have also had an altogether more pernicious and corrosive impact on the most vulnerable sections of our society who are exponentially more likely to hit crisis as a consequence.
— Calum Steele (@CalumSteeleSPF) December 6, 2017
Then of course there is the whole history of VAT. As recent events have shown VAT relief could have been delivered with the stroke of a political pen.
— Calum Steele (@CalumSteeleSPF) December 6, 2017
I know I did which is why I was astonished at his sustained attempts to ignore me at LibDem conference to discuss the matter and scurried our the door pretending to take a phone call as I pressed him on the subject
— Calum Steele (@CalumSteeleSPF) December 6, 2017
Let there be NO DOUBT - the birth of what was to be i6 started way back in the early 2000s. That was the time the former chiefs in ACPOS could only agree on the colour of the police tie
— Calum Steele (@CalumSteeleSPF) December 6, 2017
Prior to PSoS forces had systems that were (still are) falling apart. The former Strathclyde was still using floppy discs, the national intel system was running on coal and multiple login was/is commonplace
— Calum Steele (@CalumSteeleSPF) December 6, 2017
PSoS has invested in that fibre and whisky no one will pretend it’s been easy - at least its being done - as an aside were it not for the VAT Danny Alexander refused to do anything about - we might have had an easier time finding the money
— Calum Steele (@CalumSteeleSPF) December 6, 2017
I have the most enormous sympathies for the BTP officers and staff who feel an affection for their force but I find the Damascene conversion of those who willingly threw them into Smith to be slightly hypocritical
— Calum Steele (@CalumSteeleSPF) December 6, 2017
I’ve yet to bottom this out but it’s my understanding the Scottish Government subsidised rail operating companies currently pay circa £23M p/a to the BTPA for policing in Scotland. BTP Scotland staff costs are circa £11M - you do the maths.
— Calum Steele (@CalumSteeleSPF) December 6, 2017
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon gave her backing to the Tweets.
This thread from the General Secretary of the Scottish Police Federation is well worth a read. https://t.co/umRzK5sb4T
— Nicola Sturgeon (@NicolaSturgeon) December 6, 2017
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