Tuesday 23 July 2002

Edinburgh or Glasgow

It looks as if the government will have to decide which airport will become dominant in Central Scotland. This will be a difficult one for Transport Secretary Alistair Darling. He is the MP for Edinburgh Central and people here are very keen on our airport's expansion. But can he pick Edinburgh without being accused of favouritism or even electoral self-interest? On the other hand, his constituency may well disappear in the proposed parliamentary reorganisation. He would then need the goodwill of the Labour party establishment to find a new safe seat. Labour's support in Scotland is stongest in Glasgow! Edinburgh airport is more centrally located for Scotland as a whole and the economy here is booming and population is growing rapidly. Glasgow is still the larger city but not as successful as Edinburgh. I suspect that no decision will be taken before the Scottish elections next May.