SNP rejected offer of help on Glasgow Airport rail link

10.02.10

John Swinney, the SNP Scottish Finance Secretary, rejected an offer from Network Rail to save the Glasgow Airport Rail Link immediately after the project was axed last September, the Herald reports. Opposition politicians described the news as ‘astonishing’.

The suggestion that the rail link could be saved is said to have come from Iain Coucher, chief executive of Network Rail, in a telephone conversation with Mr Swinney in the days after he cancelled the scheme, causing anger from businesses and Labour politicians in the west of Scotland.

A newspaper 'source close to ministers' confirmed an offer had been made. He said: ‘John Swinney was approached by Network Rail around the time that the Glasgow Airport Rail Link was cancelled with an offer to use its own borrowing powers to fund it. It was rejected because it was felt this would jeopardise funding for other projects being paid for by Network Rail borrowing.’

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