Highland Greens slam green freeport as a 'Tory gimmick' that boosts drug smuggling
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Two of the leading Greens in the Highlands have slammed news that the Highlands would get a green freeport, despite massive investment and a wave of new jobs in the renewable energy sector.
MSP Arianne Burgess labelled freeports a “failed and dated Tory gimmick” that only benefit the “super-rich” while the leader of the Greens in Highland Council believes they are “an invitation for tax evasion, erosion of employment rights, smuggling.”
Highlands and Islands MSP Ms Burgess said: "The Scottish Greens have been clear that freeports, as proposed by the SNP and Tories, do not offer the long-term, sustainable investment Scotland's rural communities need.
“Instead, the venture gives tax breaks and public money to private companies and promotes a race to the bottom on pay and conditions for workers.
“I'm disappointed that the Highlands – an area that has built up a strong track record for thriving social enterprise and innovative rural businesses generating money for the local economy – is going to see much-needed economic development funding going instead to enrich wealthy shareholders and benefit tax havens instead of local communities."
While Councilor Ballance said: “Free Ports are an invitation for tax evasion, erosion of employment rights, smuggling and particularly drug smuggling. They are a bad idea imposed on Scotland by Westminster.
“Having said that, they are the only game in town and we congratulate the Cromarty Team for the work involved in making a successful bid. This is going to transform Invergordon, Alness, and the wider area, beyond recognition, and the important priority now is to ensure that this transformation does the least environmental damage possible, and is carried out with maximum involvement from the local community.
“It is imperative that local communities are fully involved and agree the details of the development. Opportunity Cromarty Firth must also ensure that existing local businesses are not threatened by the existence of tax-free competition on their doorstep.”
