Welcoming the new government’s decision to keep overseas development jobs at Abercrombie House in East Kilbride, Joani Reid MP said:
“This is the culmination of a huge effort to secure these jobs. The previous government made the wrong decision when they said these jobs would move to Glasgow and ever since I was elected, I have made the case whenever I could that the new government should reverse that decision and keep the jobs here. The retention of FCDO jobs in East Kilbride is not just a victory for the workforce, but for the entire town.”
Joani Reid MP raised the issue with government ministers and senior civil servants, highlighting the importance of these jobs to the local economy. In a House of Commons debate she warned ministers not to press ahead with any move:
“East Kilbride is not a suburb of Glasgow. It is a town in its own right, designated as part of the New Town movement by the post-war Labour government. It’s a success story built to give working families a place to live, work, and thrive. It is Scotland’s second-largest town, with its own economy, identity, and ambitions.
“To close the development office and shift these jobs into Glasgow is not just administrative tinkering: it is a blow to a community that has built itself around the opportunities this office provides. It is taking well-paid, skilled jobs from a town and centralising them in a city, the very kind of decision that too often leaves towns behind.”
After it was announced the jobs would be secured in East Kilbride, she said:
“The retention of UK Government jobs in East Kilbride is vital to maintaining a strong local economy, supporting businesses, and delivering on the Government’s growth mission. I am really proud to have played my part and that the new government listened to the arguments I was making.”
