Gil Paterson MSP backs Children's Panel members appeal

​GIL Paterson MSP has condemned the life expectancy figures in West Dunbartonshire and pointed the finger at decades of neglect in the town by the British state.

Earlier this week, National Records of Scotland published how the average life expectancy among Scots is now 77.1 years for men and 81.1 years for women.

The last available data for West Dunbartonshire shows it is well below the national average.
Men in the region can expect to live to age 74.1 and women age 78.7.

Mr Paterson criticised the circumstances that have caused people to live less than others in Scotland.

The Clydebank and Milngavie MSP said: “Tragically, the lower than average rates in this region are of no shock or surprise to me – it is no secret Clydebank has suffered dearly in recent decades with the industrial exodus and closure of the yards caused by reckless Tory governments of the past.

“In more recent years, we have seen benefits reduced to our most vulnerable and poorest, and attacks on low income families orchestrated by Conservative politicians. This has transpired as the cost of living soars for the people of Clydebank. A psychological war has been waged upon the poor by the wealthy politicians and their class.

 “But this socio-economic problem is impossible to mitigate with the limited powers we have in Scotland – the government here needs full powers with independence to heal the wounds upon the former industrial heartlands plagued by poverty.”