SNP MARK SECOND ANNIVERSARY WITH DAY OF ACTION.

SNP MARK SECOND ANNIVERSARY WITH DAY OF ACTION.

'THE ONLY PARTY TO SPEAK FOR SCOTLAND IN EUROPE'

SNP activists across Scotland will hit the streets today (Saturday) to campaign in advance of the European elections on June 4th 2009. Today also marks the second anniversary of Alex Salmond MSP becoming First Minister.

The SNP's European candidates will hit the campaign trail from Orkney to Glasgow as they work hard to protect Scotland's jobs and to earn voters trust.

Commenting, SNP President and European candidate Ian Hudghton MEP said:

“Over the past two years, the SNP have shown that we alone stand up for Scotland’s best interests.

“Since coming to power, the SNP Scottish Government has frozen council tax, abolished road tolls and reduced prescription charges on the way to making them free. The SNP has supported local business with the small business bonus and kept open Labour's closure threatened A & E departments to keep healthcare local.

“Scotland is wealthier, healthier and fairer because it has a Government which puts its needs first.

“And the people of Scotland recognise this – a poll this week indicated that our positive message on protecting and creating jobs can earn the trust of the people of Scotland in next month’s Euro elections.

“As voters leave the discredited Labour and Tory parties, it is the Scottish Parliament and the SNP Government that are in touch with the concerns of Scots across the country and who are working hard for recovery.

“We will continue to work hard over the next three weeks to win the trust of the Scottish people to ensure Scotland has a strong voice in Europe.

“Working in partnership and with a strong Scottish voice in Europe, Scotland has what it takes to weather the current economic storm. Only last month the Scottish Government used £75m of European funding to support 8,000 jobs and 75,000 apprenticeships.

“A vote for the SNP in the European elections will also be a vote for Scottish jobs and Scottish communities."

1. The Yougov poll commissioned for the Sun can be found at:

http://www.yougov.co.uk/extranets/ygarchives/content/pdf/sun_full150509.pdf

Asked voting intentions for the European election the result was:

SNP - 40%
Labour - 21%
LibDem - 14%
Tory - 13%

2. In a previous YouGov Poll for the Sunday Times conducted on the 7-8 May, and with a Scottish sample of 224 European voting intentions were

SNP - 37%,
Labour - 25%
Tory - 23%
LibDem - 8%
Others - 7%

2. SNP European candidates will be campaigning the following locations:

Ian Hudghton – Shetland
Alyn Smith – Edinburgh
Aileen McLeod – Orkney
Duncan Ross – Glasgow
Drew Hendry – Inverness
Gordon Archer - Glasgow