LIBDEMS CAUGHT OUT TELLING WOODLAND FAIRY TALES.

LIBDEMS CAUGHT OUT TELLING WOODLAND FAIRY TALES.

SNP MSPs have ridiculed the LibDems latest attempts to mislead voters over the Scottish Government's consultation on increasing employment on commercial Forestry Commission land by pointing out that their photo calls took place on woodland which will not be leased.

Today LibDem MSPs and MPs were at Culloden in the Highlands and are planning to visit Glentress in the Borders to scaremonger that public access would be put at risk under Scottish Government plans to increase employment and investment on Forestry Commission land.

Commenting on the LibDems scaremongering and misleading claims South of Scotland MSP Christine Grahame said:

"Yet again we see the LibDems taking the voters for fools and telling them woodland fairy tales about Scottish Government plans to increase investment, improve employment and help tackle the problem of climate change on commercial Forestry Commission land.

"Environment Minister Michael Russell has given cast iron guarantees that no land will be sold off and access to the land for the public will remain unaffected. Leasing land to those who will provide investment and employment will mean these estates will still be owned by the Scottish public and the public can get the best environmental and economic value from the land.

"It is even more embarrassing when it is pointed out that the land they are calling photo calls on will not be affected."

Highland & Islands SNP MSP Dave Thompson said:

"Not only is this photo call a blunder for the LibDems but it only raises far more questions for them.

"The Scottish Government's consultation is firmly about increasing investment, improving the environment and creating employment. In these difficult economic times that should be welcomed. The fact the LibDems are offering no proposals to do so speaks volumes about their priorities.

"No wonder they were comprehensively embarrassed in the Scottish Parliament last week when they were the only party to vote against the Scottish Government's budget."