Alexander demands Salmond action

Wendy Alexander called on Alex Salmond to act

Scottish Labour leader Wendy Alexander has called on First Minister Alex Salmond to personally intervene to try to save Aberdeen's Glencraft factory.

The factory for the blind and disabled is threatened among £27m of cutbacks.

Mr Salmond earlier said it was a council matter and that some problems stemmed from a Labour government.

However, Ms Alexander said: "It's time the SNP stopped trying to pass the buck in Aberdeen. It is SNP councillors who pushed through cuts."

'Every effort'

She said: "The first minister tried to wash his hands of the cuts. That is not good enough.

"Glencraft workers have been treated abysmally by the city council.

"Alex Salmond should do the decent thing and personally intervene to force a re-think."

Campaigners opposed to the council cutbacks had lobbied Mr Salmond in Aberdeen on Monday.

Mr Salmond said the council had a long-standing problem which it needed to address.

The council's chief executive Douglas Paterson said every effort was being made to ensure the wellbeing of its citizens.