Princes Street fire: John Swinney under renewed attack over response as social media posts fail to mention blaze
‘The financial package is very welcome, but I don't think it's right we have had to wait four weeks’ - Cllr Stephen Jenkinson
John Swinney has come under renewed attack over his lack of response to the Princes Street fire after it emerged that in the days following the Edinburgh blaze he posted on social media about paddleboarding and a series of concerts but made no mention of the fire.
On Monday the Scottish Government announced £5 million funding to help the Capital recover from the July 9 fire in the former Debenhams store which has left Princes Street closed for weeks, forcing the suspension of trams to Leith and the diversion of buses along George Street.
Council leader Jane Meagher welcomed the cash but said she was disappointed at the four-week delay and described John Swinney's failure to respond to her letter or make any public statement on the blaze "shameful".
Now it has emerged that in the week after the fire Mr Swinney's official First Minister Facebook page carried one post with a picture and the caption "Paddleboarding peace in the Scottish islands"; a short video was posted with the comment: "Nothing quite like Dougie MacLean signing Caledonia at Tiree Music Festival"; and a third post showed another picture and said: "Great to catch up with Scottish hero Craig Fergusonat Tiree Music Festival. What a star."
There was nothing about the Princes Street fire, even though he did also post about the relocation of his constituency office and the murder of former UK Tory minister Ann Widdecombe.
Edinburgh transport convener Stephen Jenkinson said: "The First Minister's official residence is just down the road and the fire was well covered in the media. He must have known about the fire whether he was on holiday or not. It would have been appropriate for him to make some expression of concern. But it seems just to have been passed over."
In contrast, said Cllr Jenkinson, within days of Glasgow's Union Corner fire, Mr Swinney was on site in hard hat and high-vis.
Last week Cllr Jenkinson spoke out about the government's delay in responding to the council's request for a meeting to discuss assistance, saying he was disappointed that so far there had been no "meaningful action or offers of support" for Edinburgh while Glasgow had quickly been given £10m funding.
Wednesday's announcement of £5m support for Edinburgh came as Deputy First Minister Jenny Gilruth visited the fire site and held talks with Cllr Meagher. Ms Gilruth told reporters the council leader had written to the government on July 17 and said the government had been working closely with the council since then.
Cllr Jenkinson said: "I don't think it's right that there has to be an exchange of letters for something so significant happening in Scotland's capital city to appear on the First Minister's desk. It should not take a formal approach for the Scottish Government to get in touch to see if there is any assistance needed.
"That was not the approach taken in Glasgow. Glasgow has an SNP led council, Edinburgh has a Labour council and the difference in the responses by the Scottish Government is quite stark.
"The financial package is very welcome, but I don't think it's right we have had to wait four weeks."
The council said its ask to the government was for support of around £5m, which is the amount it is to get. And Ms Gilruth said she would continue to engage with the council on additional support that might be required.
Cllr Jenkinson said the money was welcome. But he said: "I'm still disappointed it has taken the Scottish Government being called out by me and embarrassed into action. There is a political element to this - if it was an SNP administration in Edinburgh would been treated the same way?"
Deputy First Minister Jenny Gilruth said that Cllr Meagher had not expressed any concerns when they met and made clear her gratitude for the Scottish Government’s support. “It is disappointing to see these remarks when everyone’s full focus must be on recovery rather than politics.
“When the council leader wrote to the First Minister on July 17, which was eight days after the fire, Scottish Government officials and council officers were already in active discussions about the potential support that we could offer. Those talks were requested on 14 July, and they met the following day.
“On the day the council leader’s letter arrived, Ministers were already considering initial advice from officials about a potential support package.
“The expressed preference of the council in discussion with Scottish Government officials was that the meeting with myself should not take place until Cllr Meagher returned from a period of leave.
“My focus and that of the Scottish Government is on making sure that impacted businesses are supported, and that is why I confirmed up to £5m investment earlier this week. We look forward to continuing to work constructively with the council to support local businesses and residents.”
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