FIRST Minister John Swinney slammed Russell Findlay for his “despicable” politics pandering to Refrom UK as the Scottish Tory leader referred to plans for a replacement prison as a five-star luxury resort for inmates.
A replacement for Glasgow’s 143-year-old HMP Barlinnie, named HMP Glasgow, was approved on Wednesday and is expected to cost around £1 billion.
Initial estimates for the new prison had been around £170 million, however, the Scottish Government has said that the “total project cost” will be £998.4m.
Speaking at First Minister’s Questions on Thursday, Findlay claimed that taxpayers were not getting value for their money and that the SNP were building a “nature reserve” rather than a prison.
The Tory MSP asked how a “billion-pound Barlinnie really represent good value for Scotland’s taxpayers” while citing that the Scottish Government aims to create communities within the prison and give prisoners access to gardens.
However, Swinney firmly slapped down Findlay’s claims as he said the tone of the question was “absolutely reprehensible and despicable” later adding that the Scottish Tory leader was playing to the rhetoric of Reform UK.
He said: “If he wants to have a dividing line in politics on this type of stuff, then I'll happily be on the other side of the argument from Russell Findlay and all of the cohorts that he's courting in his question today.
“I want to make sure that there is a replacement prison so that those who are sentenced to prison can be held safely and securely and that staff are safe and secure in undertaking. their responsibilities.”
When the approval of the plans was announced on Wednesday the Scottish Government said that “independent benchmarking” showed the projected spend was “in line with costs for similar recent prison builds in England and Wales”.
HMP Glasgow, which will be at Provanmill south of Royston Road, will have a capacity of 1344, increasing the overall Scottish prison estate by 357 places, and should be completed in 2028.
Findlay continued to argue that his “cohort” was the Scottish taxpayer as he argued that he wanted to see the government build “functional prisons” and not the “best possible” ones citing the increased costs from the original proposals.
However, Swinney again rejected Findlay’s claims stating that the difference in plans from the one discussed a decade ago was because the original proposition was based on the estimates of a 700-place prison, and that HMP Glasgow will accommodate over 1340 prisoners.
He added: “Findlay can say all the things that he wants and he can play to all of the sentiments he's very visibly playing to but as First Minister of Scotland I will expect my ministers to take rational decisions to protect the public purse and to protect the public by ensuring that those who are sentenced to prison can be accommodated, and I will not play games with the type of rhetoric that Mr Findlay puts to Parliament today.”
Following the announcement of HMP Glasgow’s plans on Wednesday Justice Secretary Angela Constance (below) delivering the best value for Scottish taxpayers has been a key consideration for the project.
She said: “HMP Glasgow is a bold vision for the future of Scottish prisons that will help reduce reoffending, contribute to less crime, while delivering a considerable economic boost for the city and beyond.
“The new modern establishment will replace a Victorian-age prison that is no longer fit for purpose. It will increase prison capacity and transform how prisoners are rehabilitated, as well as considerably improving staff working conditions.
“Delivering the best value has been a key consideration of this project, which will provide more £450m worth of economic benefits, including jobs and contracts for businesses in Scotland. I very much welcome that at least 50% of project spend will benefit the local supply chain.
“It has taken time to find the right site and plan for HMP Glasgow, and like all other major infrastructure projects it has not been immune to inflation as a result of Brexit and the Covid pandemic.
“The project’s cost has been extensively scrutinised, with independent benchmarking analysis finding the costs are comparable with similar prison projects elsewhere in the UK.”
