1 Apr 2009
The Secretary of State for Scotland Jim Murphy said:
"I am delighted to announce that for the first time in almost 90 years, the Prime Minister will take his Cabinet to Scotland's largest city and my home town, Glasgow. This will be the 2nd time this year that the Cabinet has met outside London.
Scotland is an integral part of the UK so it shouldn't be a surprise to anyone to see Cabinet come north given the wide range of reserved powers which exist, from the economy to welfare, employment and defence among others. It's the first such meeting dedicated entirely to the economy, which is absolutely fitting in these times, and it is a clear sign of Scotland's needs being taken seriously at the heart of government.
Having the Cabinet in Glasgow gives us the chance to hear from the public and wider Scotland at the question and answer event and to outline the steps we are taking to get through the downturn together. It¿s more important than ever for Scotland to be an issue at the top table and connected to the wider picture.
This will be an historic occasion and I look forward to working with my Cabinet colleagues on making the meeting and events a success."