The Government has said the second statement issued by the Opposition in relation to the Rooke site has missed the point completely.

A spokesman for No6 said: “Indeed, the Opposition’s second statement has confirmed, as so often happens, that they did not know what they were talking about when they issued the first one.

“The point is that the Opposition were critical of the decision of the Government to advertise the Rooke site on the basis that this was not in the public interest.

“They ignored the possibility that any proposals that emerge for the site could very well include public gains as part of a wider development of the area.  It is difficult to understand how the Government can be criticised merely for declaring itself open to ideas and suggestions.

“Once again the Opposition have been caught out. They have been critical of the Government, purely and simply for the sake of it.  The GSD jumped the gun and are now running for cover.”

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