New Scot Lib Dem sports spokesperson reveals collapse in SNP funding for sports

Scottish Liberal Democrats have today unveiled Neil Alexander as the party’s new spokesperson for sport and culture, and revealed new figures showing that local authorities are receiving less money for sports than they were a decade ago.

Alongside leading the Moray Liberal Democrats, Neil is a video game designer and previously played Aussie Rules for Scotland. He now plays back row for Moray RFC.

Scottish Liberal Democrat analysis of Sport Scotland figures has revealed that total investment in local authority sports has fallen from £15.9m in 2013/14 to £15.5m in 2021/22, a cash cut of 2.2% or an approximately 26% real terms cut in funding when accounting for inflation.

15 Scottish local authorities get less money than they did a decade ago, including Dumfries & Galloway (-28.6%), North Ayrshire (-13.6%), Inverclyde (-12%), Renfrewshire (-11%), East Dunbartonshire (-10.2%) and Aberdeen (-10.1%).

Commenting on the figures and his appointment, Neil said:

“I’m delighted to be appointed as sports and culture spokesperson for the Scottish Liberal Democrats.

“Scotland has a fine sporting and cultural history but unless the government gets serious about investing for the future, the hunt for the next Eve Muirhead or Irvine Welsh could be a long one.

“Cutting local sports funding has an impact on both local economies and on public health too.

“Scottish Liberal Democrats want to see local authority budgets protected and enhanced to ensure that sport and culture can be for everyone.

“From getting kids in every corner of Scotland involved in sports to securing jobs in Scotland’s screen sector there is plenty for me to get stuck into in this new role.”

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton added:

“Neil brings a wealth of knowledge of Scotland’s sporting landscape and world-leading video games industry.

“Already he is hard at work exposing the harsh real terms cuts to local sports across the country.

“My Scottish Liberal Democrat team are laser-focused on the challenges faced by communities across Scotland. Meanwhile the SNP are riven by bitter infighting, embarrassed by their 15 years of failure and failing to offer a positive prospectus for the country.

“Voters are running out of patience with the nationalists and I am determined that Scottish Liberal Democrats will be part of what’s next.”