LIB DEMS LOSE WAY WITH SILLY SLOGANISING

LIB DEMS LOSE WAY WITH SILLY SLOGANISING

Dismissing an attack today (Sunday) by the Liberal Democrat’s Malcolm
Bruce at the closing of their party conference, SNP Westminster
candidate for the Gordon constituency, Richard Thomson, pointed to
official figures showing that Scotland is in a stronger financial
position than the UK as a whole.

Mr Thomson said:
‪
“Malcolm Bruce's silly sloganising shows that the Lib Dems have lost
their way, with nothing positive to say, and helps explain their slump
in the polls - while the SNP maintain a solid 7-point lead in Holyrood
voting intentions, and are running Labour neck-and-neck in the
Westminster polls.

“Fiscal autonomy is in Scotland’s best interests, and independence and
a relationship of equality with England serves the interests of both
nations, where we share a social union including the Queen as our Head
of State.‬‪‬‪

“The official figures show that Scotland is in a stronger financial
position than the UK as a whole – the flow of resources is from north
to south. The GERS report demonstrates that Scotland ran current
budget surpluses in the three years to 2007/08, worth £2.3 billion,
compared to the UK recording a deficit of £24 billion over the same
period.‬‪

“We also know that £50 billion of North Sea oil revenue will flow to
London over the coming six years – more than during the previous six,
and £10 billion up on the Treasury’s previous forecast. The UK is
only being kept afloat at all by Scottish oil.‬‪

“The clear way ahead is for the people of Scotland to have their say
on more powers for the Scottish Parliament and independence in the
Referendum Bill that the SNP Government are bringing forward.”‬‪