SNP READY FOR POLL – WHENEVER IT’S CALLED

SNP READY FOR POLL – WHENEVER IT’S CALLED

MUNDELL SIDELINED BY MCLETCHIE

Commenting on reports today (Sunday) that Labour may call the
Westminster election for March, SNP Westminster Chief Whip Stewart
Hosie MP highlighted polling showing the SNP was in the strongest
position in the party’s history going into a General Election.
Separately the Tories have announced the appointment of David
McLetchie MSP as Conservative General Election campaign manager, in
preference to Shadow Scottish Secretary David Mundell.

Mr Hosie said:

“We have been ready for this election since October 2007, when the
Prime Minister flunked it. The most recent poll for a Westminster
election put the SNP in the lead, and we are in the strongest position
in the party's history going into a General Election.

“Whether the next government is Labour or Tory, our preference is for
a hung Westminster parliament, and we have a clear and compelling
message - which is that a block of SNP MPs can secure vital gains for
Scotland, working for Scotland on an issue by issue basis. By
contrast, Labour and the Tories are falling over themselves to slash
the Scottish Government's budget, while also planning to waste £100
billion on a new generation of Trident nuclear weapons.

"Scotland does well when the SNP do well, and that is a winning
message in the General Election campaign."

Commenting on the appointment of David McLetchie MSP as Conservative
General Election campaign manager, in preference to Shadow Scottish
Secretary David Mundell, Mr Hosie said:

“Appointing David McLetchie to run the election campaign is a clear
signal that David Mundell has been sidelined by the Tory high command
in London. It can only be seen as a snub to Mr Mundell. And given
that Mr McLetchie had to resign from his party’s leadership in
Scotland because of an expenses scandal, it hardly indicates that the
Tories have learned their lesson from the abuse of the Westminster
system.

“While the Tories fight each other, the SNP will be fighting for Scotland.”