MSP campaigns for nuclear free Middle East – Thursday 10^th May 2012

An SNP MSP is playing a leading role in the push for a Middle East free of nuclear weapons and weapons of mass destruction at the United Nations in Vienna.

Mr Kidd, the MSP for Anniesland, has presented the UN facilitator, Finnish Ambassador Laajava with an international statement in favour of the holding of a Conference of all Middle East nations in Helsinki in December of this year.

Mr Kidd said:

"The statement I had the honour to present to Ambassador Laajava is signed by over 270 parliamentarians from 42 countries world-wide, including from Israel, Egypt and Jordan, and calls for every country at the UN to get behind this proposed conference in Helsinki.

"We will all benefit from cooperation amongst the nations of the Middle East against the spectre of nuclear weapons and Scotland is taking its place in calling for the nuclear weapon states to support the Helsinki conference.

“Nuclear weapons threaten the very existence of life on our planet and I am proud to be part of the SNP who are committed to a nuclear free independent Scotland.”

Labour challenged on votes at 16 position – Saturday 12^th May 2012

Scottish Labour have been challenged to say whether they support votes for 16 and 17 year-olds in the referendum over Scotland’s constitutional future – after former Welsh First Minister, and current Labour MP, Alun Michael, called for children as young as 14 to get the vote.

Labour MSPs and MPs, including Shadow Scotland Secretary Margaret Curran, have given their support to the Votes at 16 campaign, but the party have been silent on the franchise for the Autumn 2014 independence referendum.

Calling for clarity, SNP Constitutional Affair spokesperson at Westminster Pete Wishart MP said:

“With a former Labour First Minister arguing for votes at 14, Johann Lamont need end the uncertainty around her position, and say whether Labour actually supports votes for 16 and 17 years-olds in the independence referendum.

“The SNP supports votes at 16 in all elections and where we have the power over Health Board Elections and even elections to the Crofting Commission we have ensured our young people have a say. 16 and 17-year-olds in Scotland must be able to have their say over Scotland’s constitutional future.

“With organisations representing thousands of young people calling for a vote in this referendum the anti-independence parties must reconsider their position.

“Labour MPs like their deputy leader Anas Sarwar backed votes at 16 in the AV referendum but want to withhold that right from young Scots in the independence referendum. Labour must explain why they are determined to stand in the way of young scots rights to a say over their future.

“Young people of this age are already on the electoral roll and they play a part in our society. It is only fair that they have their say.”

Notes:

1.Alan Michael MPs comments can be found here:

http://news.uk.msn.com/articles.aspx?cp-documentid=161348791

2. Ed Miliband, Douglas Alexander, Jim Murphy, Anas Sarwar and Margaret Curran alongside other Labour MPs vote for 16/17 year olds to vote on AV referendum. Amendment 332 to the Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill

2. Scottish Labour support for Votes at 16 Campaign Anas Sarwar, Deputy Leader of Scottish Labour Margaret Curran, Shadow Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander, Shadow Foreign Secretary Willie Bain, Shadow Scotland minister Jim Murphy, Shadow Defence Secretary Gordon Banks MP, Labour MP for Ochil and South Perthshire Anne Begg MP, Labour MP for Aberdeen South Russell Brown MP, Labour MP for Dumfries and Galloway Katy Clark MP, Labour MP for North Ayrshire and Arran Tom Clarke MP, Labour MP for Coatbridge, Chryston and Bellshill Ian Davidson MP, Labour/Co-operative MP for Glasgow South West Thomas Docherty MP, Labour MP for Dunfermline and West Fife Brian Donohoe MP, Labour MP for Central Ayrshire Sheila Gilmore MP, Labour MP for Edinburgh East Eric Joyce MP, Labour MP for Falkirk Mark Lazarowicz MP, Labour/Co-operative MP for Edinburgh North and Leith Michael McCann MP, Labour MP for East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow Gregg McClymont MP, Labour MP for Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East Ian Murray MP, Labour MP for Edinburgh South Pamela Nash MP, Labour MP for Airdrie and Shotts John Robertson MP, Labour MP for Glasgow North West MSPs Claudia Beamish MSP, Scottish Labour MSP for South Scotland Kezia Dugdale MSP, Scottish Labour and Co-op MSP for Lothian region Neil Findlay MSP, Scottish Labour MSP for Lothian John Park MSP, Scottish Labour MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife http://www.votesat16.org/

Labour ditch free education promise – Saturday 12^th May 2012

The SNP is the only party that can be trusted to protect free education in Scotland after Labour leader Johann Lamont, speaking at the Scottish Fabian Society conference, appeared to abandon Labour’s free education policy.

Joe Fitzpatrick, SNP MSP for Dundee City West, said Labour voters would be aghast that the party appeared to be abandoning progressive politics and again hitching themselves to Tories.

Labour claimed before last May’s Holyrood election that it would not reintroduce back-door tuition fees in Scottish universities, which the SNP Scottish Government scrapped in 2007.

Mr Fitzpatrick said:

“This is Johann Lamont’s Nick Clegg moment. Labour voters will be aghast that Johann Lamont appears to be ditching her party’s pre-election commitment to free education as the party abandon progressive politics and hitch themselves to the Tories.

“Labour are reverting to type on charging the young people of Scotland for their education. It was the Labour-Liberal coalition that introduced back-door tuition fees in Scotland – which were then abolished by the SNP – and Labour which brought in tuition fees south of the border.

“The SNP will never price Scottish young people out of an education.

We are the only Party never to have voted for tuition fees, and as Alex Salmond has promised, the rocks will melt with the sun before we do so.

“As the map produced by the European Students’ Union shows, the Scottish Government is one of only three countries to have delivered increased funding for the sector.

“The SNP Government is committed to maintaining free education, as well protecting places for Scottish students in Further and Higher Education.

“Johann Lamont needs to explain how this Tory policy fits in with her apparent left-wing credentials.”

Note:

1. Reports of Johann Lamont’s comments can be found here:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/9261125/Johann-Lamont-Free-univ...

2. The European Students Union surveyed the views of students on the impact of the global financial crisis on investment in higher education institutions as part of their Bologna with Student Eyes 2012publication. The map shows Scotland is one of only three countries where students believe more investment has been made. It is available from http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150737523444334&set=a.101506352...

Call for faster action on high speed rail – Sunday 13^th May 2012

Following the absence of a bill paving the way for high-speed rail in this year's Queen's speech, the SNP has called for speedier action from the UK Government - and a firm commitment for a line that reaches Scotland from the beginning.

The SNP’s Westminster Business and Enterprise spokesperson Mike Weir MP has written to Transport Secretary Justine Greening urging the coalition government to include Scotland in plans for the network from the earliest stage, and asking for a clear timetable for its extension to Scotland.

There are still no scheduled plans from the UK Government for the line to extend beyond Leeds, with phase one from London to Birmingham expected to be complete by 2026, and the second phase to Leeds by 2033.

Mr Weir said:

“It is disappointing, to say the least, that we have to wait another year for the bill before the high speed rail bill will be published.

If the coalition are serious about building a high speed rail network to connect population centres across the UK, then they must stop dragging their heels and get on with it.

“I hope the lack of a bill is not an indication of weakening support for this important economic development from within the Tory-Lib Dem coalition.

“This infrastructure is crucial for our long term transport future in Scotland, but existing UK government plans don’t go far enough. There is currently no scheduled commitment to extend the line beyond Leeds – keeping Scotland in the slow lane for another twenty years.

"Connecting Scottish cities is central, not peripheral, to the business case for high speed rail. It will stimulate jobs and help create growth, and play a crucial role in cutting carbon emissions.

“I welcome that the UK Government have agreed to let High Speed 2 talk to Scottish Ministers, but without a real commitment from the UK in legislation there are real questions about their commitment.

“Studies estimate high speed rail would benefit the Scottish economy to the tune of £20 billion. It would also significantly reduce short haul flights, getting people out of planes and onto trains.

“Unlike the Birmingham line, there is a united voice in support of the line from green campaigners, the government and the business community in Scotland.

“We are already way behind other European nations in our connectivity.

The Spanish Government have set an excellent example – investing long term in links between all major cities. By contrast, the coalition’s plans will take the line only one third of the way up the British mainland by 2033.

“The half-hearted commitment from the UK Government to high speed rail shows it doesn’t have Scotland’s best interests at heart.

“Only with the full economic levers of an independent nation can we ensure Scotland has transport connections fit for the twenty-first century.”

Questions for Labour over Tory pacts – Sunday 13^th May 2012

Labour's commitment to progressive politics is in question after the party formed even more formal coalitions with the Tory party in councils across Scotland says the SNP.

SNP MSP for South Scotland, Chic Brodie, who represents South Ayrshire where one of these formal coalitions is in place said Labour had also betrayed their voters with their decision to form administrations with the Tories in local authorities across Scotland.

Labour is forming pacts with the Tories in Aberdeen City, East Lothian, East Dunbartonshire, Falkirk, Inverclyde, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire and Stirling.

With the Tories driving cuts in spending, pursuing damaging reform of the welfare system that will hit vulnerable people across the country and refusing to invest in growing the economy, SNP MSP Chic Brodie highlighted how Labour's election rhetoric did not meet the reality.

Mr Brodie said:

"For Labour voters across the country the growing number of Tory-Labour pacts in councils across Scotland are a real betrayal of what they voted for. Scotland's councils need progressive partnerships to protect people from the Westminster imposed cuts not these deals that defy the Labour rhetoric.

"The decision to go into partnership with the party who are cutting disability benefits and refusing to invest in jobs and growth across the country is a kick in the teeth to those people suffering the effects of those Tory cuts and makes a mockery of Labour's claims to stand against the coalition's cuts agenda.

"Voters in Scotland clearly rejected the coalition parties yet Labour is giving them a lifeline when they only won 9% of the councillors in Scotland.

"Labour voters didn't expect their votes would be used to let the Tories in the back door to form council administrations with Labour.

"Labour agree with the Tories on blocking new powers for Scotland as well increasingly converging with them on the economy and spending cuts at Westminster.

"With a few notable exceptions it is becoming clearer that Labour is more keen on protecting Westminster power and control than protecting people from Tory led Westminster cuts.

"What Scotland needs are progressive partnerships focussed on jobs, growth and local communities - not dodgy deals with the Tories."

Welcome for Hunter referendum comments – Sunday 13^th May 2012

The SNP has welcomed an article by Scottish business leader and philanthropist Sir Tom Hunter, in which he argues against a rushed referendum on Scotland’s constitutional future, for a positive debate and condemns the scaremongering of the anti-independence parties.

Writing in the Sunday Times, Sir Tom says: “Many now seem to be arguing that we need the vote before 2014. Why? We have only lightly touched the edges of the debates we need for our country’s future; do they really want to compress that debate for political expediency. A speedy referendum might suit some, but it certainly does not suit democracy.

“So as we reach out towards a vote that will determine the future of our great nation for the foreseeable future, ask yourself this – who has the ambition, the drive and determination to make this nation great once more.

“Ultimately, our politicians create the framework within which can all succeed or aspire to mediocrity. I would like to see the debate on independence anchored in ambition and I think it is time for those politicians who use scaremongering as a tactic to halt the independence bandwagon to stop; it’s a recipe for delivering precisely what they don’t want, because Scottish voters are not daft.”

Welcoming the comments, SNP Independence Referendum Campaign Director, Angus Robertson MP, said:

“Sir Tom Hunter is one of Scotland’s leading entrepreneurs and philanthropists, so his comments on the independence referendum are very welcome and will, I hope, be influential in the conduct of the debate ahead.

"Sir Tom's calls for a positive debate, his condemnation of scaremongering, and support for the Scottish Government's timescale for the referendum, are particularly welcome and a blow for the anti-independence parties.

“The independence debate will come down to which vision of Scotland’s future inspires and enthuses people the most, and all the evidence shows that the pro-independence campaign is winning that debate.

“Over the coming weeks and months we will set out the arguments for independence, and make the case for the people of Scotland taking the decisions about what happens in Scotland. That is a compelling case and it will be made by people who have the trust of the people of Scotland.”