The Scottish Liberal Democrats’ manifesto has been launched. Carefully burnishing their federalist credentials, it replicates the UK-wide manifesto on matters reserved to Westminster but on devolved matters, lays out what the party in Scotland would like to see happen.
Scottish Party leader Tavish Scott and Westminster Scotland spokesperson Alistair Carmichael put the emphasis on ‘fairness’ at the manifesto launch in target constituency Leith. Carmichael said the party’s manifesto “highlights the opportunities there are for Scotland with a Liberal Democrat government at Westminster”.
He went on to comment on the recent Liberal Democrat opinion poll surge, saying, “the people in this election have taken control of the agenda away from the political parties, away from Labour and Conservative, and said, ‘no, actually, we’re the ones who will call the shots’.”
The Scottish Liberal Democrats describe their key pledges as ‘four steps to a fairer Britain’. These include:
- Exempting the first £10,000 of earnings from tax, which they say would free half a million low earners and pensioners in Scotland from tax completely,
- To pay for this, closing tax loopholes and more tax on polluters,
- Ensure children get the individual attention they need with more teachers and one-to-one tuition, made possible by investing extra money in schools, targeted to help struggling pupils,
- Cut student debts and make a degree affordable for all,
- Break up the banks and get them lending again to protect real businesses,
- Honesty about the tough choices needed to cut the deficit,
- Green growth and jobs that last by investing in infrastructure,
- Put trust back into politics by giving people the right to sack corrupt MPs,
- Restore and protect hard-won British civil liberties with a Freedom Bill,
- Overhaul Westminster completely: fair votes; an elected House of Lords; all politicians to pay full British taxes.
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eye_write
April 22, 2010 @ 10:34 am
Lib Dems says the party of government in Scotland is 'irrelevant'. The party who the majority of voters in Scotland voted for. Yet, the LibDems with much less a share of the vote, aren't. Smaller parties should not be involved in the Leaders Debates, they say. So anyone who is represented by these parties, also has an irrelevant voice. Yet the LibDems as a minority party, are. The LibDems oppose a referendum on Scottish independence. They oppose asking the people their say. How Democratic is any of that? Not very. How Democratic are the LibDems.2
Helen Morrison
April 23, 2010 @ 1:03 pm
Son, aged 27 years, left his tax job in January due to unreasonable behaviour by employer. Receives no govt. funding as a result. Has travelled all over Scotland for interviews at his own expense and when he requested help with travel to Cornwall for 2 more interviews was told to make an appointment and they would seek the cheapest fare. Why not trust him to provide reasonable receipts? They treated the politicians differently with their expense claims!! He is living off his savings, paying his own mortgage and all costs while seeking the right job.3
John McArdle
May 8, 2010 @ 7:04 pm
EDINBURGH 15th MAY: Please Attend the Demonstration to Take Back Parliament. Full Proportional Representation NOW. This is NOT a party political event. It is for everybody who demands that their vote - their voice be heeded and fully represented. Take power back! Spread the word, tell all your friends and family! And see you all there! http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.power2010.org.uk%2Fpage%2Fevent%2Fdetail%2Fwr4k&h=87f70