SNP SPELLS OUT VISION OF A FAIRER, WEALTHIER, GREENER SCOTLAND
MANIFESTO’S GOALS OF 60,000 RENEWABLE ENERGY JOBS AND HIGH-SPEED RAIL
BALANCED PARLIAMENT OFFERS SCOTLAND’S GREATEST OPPORTUNITY
Launching the SNP’s Westminster manifesto in Glasgow today (Tue), Party leader and First Minister Alex Salmond said that this election, and the growing prospect of a balanced parliament, offered a great opportunity for Scotland.
The manifesto sets out the SNP’s vision for the creation of 60,000 green energy jobs in the next decade, and calls for Scotland to be included in the first phase of plans for high-speed rail, as well as outlining the key services the Party is intent on protecting from the cuts agenda of the London parties.
Mr Salmond said: “We are now almost at the half way point of this election. And it is an election that is moving in Scotland's direction.
“The prospect of a balanced parliament has now become increasingly likely.
“The thought causes panic in the Labour and Tory ranks.
“But it is a development that is welcome here in Scotland and one which we embrace enthusiastically.
“For it is with a balanced parliament that Scotland’s greatest opportunity exists.
The more SNP MPs, the stronger Scotland’s hand will be.
Mr Salmond added:
“In that context a vote for the SNP is a vote for maximum influence for Scotland.
“For MPs who will put Scotland first, who will seek to protect the country from the Labour, Tory and Liberal cuts agenda. “From Tweedledum, Tweedledee and the Tweedledems.
“The greater the opportunity for our people, our communities and our nation.
“On polling day it is the people, not the politicians who have the power.
“A balanced Parliament will be a people’s parliament.”
Mr Salmond outlined the manifesto’s pledges to protect policies like free personal care, concessionary travel, the SNP Government’s £1.25 billion investment in new schools and the Forth Replacement Crossing.
The manifesto also promotes fairness for families by proposing that pensions and the minimum wage should rise in line with earnings, while also backing the extension of paternity leave. It will also propose more support for ex-servicemen and women by calling for the introduction of a Scottish Veterans’ Card.
Mr Salmond said:
“We will offer an alternative to the London parties’ agenda - an alternative that sees spending cut on the things that don't matter at all.
“Take the spending axe to the £100,000 million Trident and its replacement or the £100 million House of Lords, OR THE £10 MILLION SCOTLAND OFFICE, so we can invest instead in the things that matter most.
“More Nats will mean more jobs for the people of Scotland - our aim is to create 60,000 green jobs in Scotland by the end of the decade.
“We can release the near £200 million fossil fuel levy to invest in renewable energy projects across Scotland. And we can remove the barriers to investment by ending the discriminatory transmission charging regime.
“Scotland's green energy potential is huge. We can become the renewable energy powerhouse of Europe, but we've got to make the right decisions now and stop the wrong decisions in London from holding us back.
“Scotland must be part of the first stage of high speed rail. As the events of recent days have shown, Scotland's economy cannot rely on domestic air travel. So we say start high speed rail in Scotland.
“We need a new capital acceleration to support a recovery that remains fragile. That measure alone would create and support almost 5,000 jobs this year. And by halting the increase in National Insurance we can protect a further 10,000 Scottish jobs.
Mr Salmond added:
“Running through this manifesto is the SNP vision of a new future for Scotland.
“A Scotland that is independent, socially just and economically secure.
“The real alternative to the discredited Westminster system is a fresh, independent future for our nation. And our MPs will work to make sure the people of Scotland can choose this future in a referendum.
“Our nation deserves more than a decade of dismal cuts - a decade of wasted opportunities and lost hope.
“A window of opportunity is emerging for Scotland. And it is an opportunity our nation can seize by voting for more than just a politician.
“They can elect local champions, and national champions. SNP MPs who will win a better deal for our nation.”
1. The full manifesto can be read here:
http://www.snp.org/manifestos/
2. Highlights are as follows:
Overview
· Our plans would mean 60,000 new green jobs by 2020;
· A fair deal for pensioners with pensions rising in line with earnings and a guarantee to protect free personal care and concessionary travel
· A new phase of capital acceleration so we can create almost 5,000 new jobs this year.
· We will press for the scrapping of Trident nuclear missiles and a halt to their replacement
· Demand a fair fuel regulator to protect motorists from soaring fuel prices
· Work to make sure Scotland is part of the first phase of the UK high speed rail network.
· We will argue to scrap the £5 billion ID card project, the £100 billion replacement for Trident, the £100 million House of Lords and the near £10 million Scotland Office so we can instead protect the vital public services we all rely on and make the investment we need for economic recovery.
· Our MPs will work to ensure that Scots get the opportunity to be consulted on our own constitutional future.
· Every SNP candidate will sign a pledge of accessibility, accountability and openness – it will be their Community Commitment.
Economy & Jobs
· We will demand the release of the Fossil Fuel Levy money so it can be used to deliver £200 million new investment in renewables.
· We will work to remove obstacles to further investment in wave, tidal and wind generation in Scotland by ending the discriminatory transmission charging regime.
· We will work to ensure that growth industries in Scotland, like the games industry, are given the same sort of support as in competitor countries and for incentives for further investment and exploration in the North Sea, helping extend the lifetime of this valuable Scottish resource.
· The UK government should use its influence as a controlling shareholder in some of the UK's major banks to ensure increased access to credit.
· We will urge a further acceleration of capital spending, a move that would support almost 5,000 Scottish jobs and provide much needed economic stimulus in the short term.
· And SNP MPs will join with the Scottish Government to press for Scotland to have the ability to borrow.
· New, fairer funding arrangements, including fiscal autonomy for Scotland, will be one of our key priorities.
Local Champions
· The UK should adopt the same sort of tax derogation on fuel sold in our island and remote communities as exists elsewhere in the EU.
· We will work to protect postal services across Scotland by opposing any changes to the Royal Mail that will weaken the universal delivery obligation.
· We support the creation of a post bank to enable Post Offices to provide a greater range of banking services for many of our smaller towns and rural areas.
· The SNP will also continue to lead cross-party calls for the return of £150 million lottery funds diverted from Scotland to help fund the London 2012 games.
A fairer Scotland
· We believe the minimum wage should increase in line with earnings.
· The SNP will support moves to extend paternity leave – it is right that both parents are able to take adequate leave in the first months of their child's life.
· As a result of representations from SNP MPs, the Scottish Government is now exploring options for the introduction of a Veterans Card in Scotland to improve access to services.
· And changes to the system of cold weather payments so it more closely reflects Scottish needs and circumstances and increases support for individuals in Scotland.
Supporting Rural Scotland
· We will provide a strong voice for our fishing and agriculture sectors, holding the UK government to account while they represent these economically important industries in Europe.
· To protect the incomes of many of our farm businesses we will oppose UK plans on CAP reform, which would see the removal of the important First Pillar funding.
International and Defence
· We will press the UK government to meet its international obligations including a continued commitment to meet the UN target of 0.7% of national wealth devoted to overseas development.
· Given the increasing strains on service family life we believe that Scottish recruited units should be based as close to home as is practical.
· The SNP does not wish to see Scottish troops committed in Afghanistan without time limit, without being given a sense of their overarching goals, without a clear vision of what is being fought for, and without a consideration of the means that will be necessary to achieve such an end. That is why we must now have a proper review of the UK's strategy and approach.
Scottish Government Actions and Plans – the things we will protect:
· Extending the small business bonus, which means that more businesses in local communities will pay no rates at all.
· Directly supporting jobs in local communities through record investment in social housing, including the first substantial investment in council housing for decades.
· The new Border's Railway will provide direct access for many communities to Edinburgh, boosting local jobs and local economies.
· The faster journey times by train from Aberdeen and Inverness, the improvements on the A9 and A96 and the green light for the Aberdeen by-pass will also deliver social and economic benefits for communities in the north and north east.
· We will take forward the crucial Forth Replacement Crossing, in the face of the cuts proposed by the government in London.
· Through the Scottish budget this year, we have invested once again in modern apprentices and in our universities and colleges.
· The SNP will not introduce tuition fees or top up fees and will oppose any changes in English fees arrangements that have the knock on effect of reducing funding for Scotland through the Barnett formula, as we have done previously.
· Through the 16+ Learning Choices to offer a place of learning to every young person as they reach the end of their compulsory school years.
· And we are also working to improve the life chances of young Scots, with an increase in the number of free hours of nursery education.
· We will protect our planned £1.25 billion investment in even more new and refurbished schools.
· Alongside incentives for new oil recovery we believe the offshore taxation regime should also support the development of Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS).
· And the £840m new Southern General hospital in Glasgow.
· Our new Patients Rights Bill will introduce new health rights for the people of Scotland including waiting time guarantees. By next year, no patient will wait more than 18 weeks in total from being referred by a GP to receiving the treatment they need.
· We have also reduced waiting times for cancer treatment. The NHS is now working towards a maximum waiting time for cancer of just 31 days from when the decision is taken to treat a patient to the treatment being started.
· And we will move forward with our proposals to abolish prescription charges in 2011. Currently, the number of police officers in Scotland is at 17,273 – 1039 higher than when we came to office and more than the 1,000 extra we promised. Our MPs will do all they can to protect the funding for these officers who are making Scotland's streets safer.
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