Cameron 'too busy' to visit North Ayrshire

Prime Minister David Cameron turned down an invitation to visit North Ayrshire, citing “enormous pressure” on his diary.

Former MSP Campbell Martin, the Scottish Socialist Party candidate for the Ardrossan & Arran seat at May’s North Ayrshire Council Election, wrote to Mr Cameron in February, challenging him to come to North Ayrshire, which has Scotland’s highest level of unemployment.  The Prime Minister was in Troon last Friday (March 23) to address the Scottish Conservative & Unionist Party Conference, and Mr Martin invited him to travel the extra few miles into North Ayrshire.

On David Cameron’s response, Campbell Martin said, “It’s what I expected.  The Prime Minister likes to talk tough, but he isn’t tough enough to come to North Ayrshire and face the people whose lives are being destroyed by the policies of his government.  In my letter, I challenged him to come here and see for himself the devastating consequences of his actions, but he isn’t up to that challenge.

“Cameron spoke to an adoring Tory audience in Troon Concert Hall, then sneaked out the backdoor to avoid coming face-to-face with any locals or protesters.  Meanwhile, just a few miles up the road, there are communities where the very fabric of society is crumbling because of savage cuts imposed by the UK Government.”

Mr Martin pointed out North Ayrshire already has over 1,500 people under the age of 24 without work, adding, “But David Cameron is too busy to come here and listen to them.  He isn’t interested in the damage he and his coalition government are doing.  He’s a multi-millionaire and the cuts don’t affect him and his family.  It’s ordinary men, women and children in places like North Ayrshire that are being forced to pay the price of bailing-out failed banks and the corrupt capitalist system.”

The Scottish Trades Union Congress has organised a demonstration in Troon on Saturday (March 24) on the second day of the Scottish Tory Conference.  Campbell Martin will address a meeting in the town’s Anchorage Hotel following what is expected to be one of Scotland’s largest protests against UK Government austerity measures.