GRAY EXPOSES HIS IGNORANCE

For Immediate Release – Thursday 30th September 2010


Attn: NEWSDESKS
POLITICAL CORRESPONDENTS


Commenting on Iain Gray’s blunder at First Minister’s Questions today where he claimed Norway had an oil fund because the oil industry was nationalised SNP MSP Joe FitzPatrick said:


“Iain Gray just exposes his ignorance and arrogance about other countries and Scotland's oil when he makes such silly statements.


“The money for Norway’s oil fund doesn’t come from Statoil – it comes from tax revenues from all the oil companies that work in the Norwegian oil sector. Norway’s oil fund is now worth around £300 billion, and simply underlines why – in the face of savage London cuts – it is essential that Scotland similarly benefits from its own resources, with a Scottish oil fund to secure the nation’s wealth for future generations.


“Iain Gray just makes himself look foolish when he makes such remarks and shows that no one can trust a word he or his party say. He shows he is more interested in talking Scotland down than helping Scotland up.


“He just shows why at the next election voters will have a choice between an experienced SNP Government led by Alex Salmond putting the priorities of the Scottish people first against an inexperienced Labour party who get their facts wrong.”


ENDS


Notes


The Scottish Government's "An Oil Fund for Scotland" can be read here:


http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2009/07/28112701/0