MSP backs local business . . in leaflet made in England

A CITY MSP has boasted about his support for local businesses - in a leaflet printed in Portsmouth. Edinburgh South Liberal Democrat Mike Pringle claimed in the glossy handout that he was "standing up for local business".

But tiny print at the bottom of the page revealed the leaflet had been printed on the south coast of England.

The front of the leaflet, delivered to thousands of homes in the constituency, asked: "Who can we rely on to stand up for our area?" with a picture of Mr Pringle.

Inside he said his priorities included "standing up for local business".

Jim Eadie, Mr Pringle's SNP rival at the coming election, said: "What he doesn't say is it's local businesses in Portsmouth."

Mr Eadie said it would not have been difficult to find an Edinburgh business to print the leaflets.

He said: "There are plenty of design and print companies in Scotland and Edinburgh that would be only too glad of this business in these difficult economic times."

Mr Pringle, who is seeking re-election in the renamed Edinburgh Southern seat at the Scottish Parliament elections in May, defended his choice.

He said he always got several quotes before awarding a contract.

He said: "We get quotes from people in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Fife and the south of England and we go to the people who are the cheapest and best value. We have had quotes from people in Edinburgh, but they are substantially more expensive

"I don't know how they do it, but the firm in Portsmouth do it much cheaper. We are talking about hundreds of pounds."

Mr Pringle insisted: "It doesn't mean I don't support local business.

"If a local business was able to quote even close to the firm in Portsmouth I would use the local business, but I can't get such a quote.

"If there isn't anywhere in Edinburgh that can compete, you are forced to go elsewhere."

He said his annual report for constituents was not being printed in Portsmouth or Edinburgh. He said: "The last quote we got, the people in Portsmouth were not the cheapest so the annual report is being done by a company in Glasgow."

Mr Pringle said he had helped a lot of individual businesses with their own problems and had campaigned for transitional relief for many businesses, including hotels and guest houses, who faced huge increases in their business rates under the SNP.