Nicola Sturgeon refused to rule out compulsory redundancies at Dundee Council after city chiefs revealed job cuts are being considered.
Locking horns with Jenny Marra at First Minister’s Questions, Ms Sturgeon also described the Labour MSP’s anger over Dundee funding as “pathetic”.
Ms Marra called on the First Minister to confirm her no compulsory redundancy policy and guarantee there will be no such job losses at Dundee City Council while she leads the country.
The FM said: “Councils are autonomous and they take their own decisions. The Scottish Government’s no compulsory redundancy policy remains in place.
“I don’t think, if memory serves me correctly, there was any such policy while Labour were last in administration in the Scottish Government.”
The SNP leader was in Perth on Monday to announce the projects benefiting from £50 million of extra funding under the Tay Cities Deal, the investment package backed by £350m from both governments.
The vast majority of the top-up cash from the SNP administration is for the Cross Tay Link Road, with the remaining £10m to support industry across Tayside.
Ms Marra said she is “disappointed” so little cash was found for Dundee in light of the Michelin jobs disaster, which came to light in November.
“I would have expected, and many people in Dundee would have expected, that full share of the £50m to come to our city,” the MSP said.
Ms Sturgeon replied: “It could only be a Labour MSP that stands up in this chamber and says ‘I’m furious that you’ve announced £50m of additional investment’.
“What a pathetic response.”
