TAVISH BLUNDERS IN CONFERENCE SPEECH ON REFERENDUM

TAVISH BLUNDERS IN CONFERENCE SPEECH ON REFERENDUM

Commenting on Tavish Scott’s speech to the UK Liberal Democrat conference today where he said that government should trust people to make their own decisions on their own lives and their own communities, SNP MSP Dr Alasdair Allan – a member of the Scottish Parliament’s Communities & Local Government Committee - said it showed astounding hypocrisy considering how the LibDems had allied with the unionist parties to oppose an independence referendum.

In his speech Tavish Scott said:

“When government shows that it trusts people to make their own decisions on their own lives and their own communities, perhaps people will start to trust their government again.”

Commenting Dr Allan said:

“This is astounding hypocrisy from the LibDems in Scotland. Does Tavish Scott think he can tell one thing to an audience south of the border whilst attacking those very same principles in Scotland.

“If he genuinely believes in trusting the people to make their own decisions on their lives and communities then he should be supporting a referendum.

“That he allies with the unionist parties betrays this statement as just another example of muddled LibDem soundbites which don’t meet the reality of their actions.

“The fact is that under the SNP local democracy has never been stronger thanks to the historic concordat and equal partnership between local and central government - much better than the disastrous and dysfunctional relationship when Tavish Scott was a minister in the Lab/Lib coalition.

“Not only have we that relationship with councils but we are also piloting elections to health boards - something that never happened during the 8 years of Lab/Lib coalition.

“As for his remarks about a single police authority those are a complete fiction and totally baseless – a typical Lib Dem fantasy.”