Liz Truss is being urged to return to her childhood home town to see first hand the impact 12 years of austerity has had.
The new Prime Minister has been formally invited to Paisley by politicians from across the political divide as they demand she shows real commitment to her levelling up agenda.
Mrs Truss moved to Paisley when she was four years old, living in the town from 1979 to 1985 when her mathematician father took up a role at Paisley College - now the University of the West of Scotland.
She attended West Primary and has since said that she witnessed “low expectations, poor educational standards and a lack of opportunity” while at the school and another state school in Leeds.
Now, the new Prime Minister, who repeatedly referenced Paisley during her election campaign, has been urged to invest in Renfrewshire and end that lack of opportunity she lamented.
Neil Bibby, Labour MSP for West Scotland, yesterday formally wrote to the Prime Minister urging her to visit the town without delay.
Congratulating the West Primary alumni on achieving high office, Mr Bibby wrote: “During the leadership contest you said you were completely committed to the levelling up agenda because of your childhood experiences in Paisley and Leeds.
“I know you have been in Scotland to see her Majesty the Queen and I hope your next visit to Scotland will be to Paisley.
“I would like to invite you to Paisley to meet with local people and community groups to hear at first hand how people here are struggling with the cost of living and the need for jobs and investment after a decade of austerity.
“I would be happy to arrange such meetings.”
Paisley-based Mr Bibby said there was a raft of measures Mrs Truss could take to “level up” this area.
Highly skilled, well-paid government jobs could made available in Paisley by relocating departments here, while further investment in major infrastructure projects like the Glasgow Airport Rail Link project and CrossRail could also be prioritised and supported.
He added: “Real investment also in our town centre would bring opportunity to Paisley,
“It’s now up to the Prime Minister to show how serious she really is about levelling up.”
Gavin Newlands, SNP MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire North, has also used his column in today’s Express to call on Liz Truss to visit Paisley.
Arguing the new Prime Minister does not have a handle on the crisis facing families, he said: “Liz Truss spent a great deal of her leadership campaign trumpeting her Paisley background.
“It’s time she made the trip as an adult and as Prime Minister of the UK.
“She should come to Paisley and explain why loading households up with more debt is a solution to the energy price crisis.”
Russell Findlay, Conservative MSP and supporter of the new Prime Minister, recently told the Express Truss has “fond memories” of Paisley and is “keen to return”.
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