TORIES CAUGHT OUT ON BUSINESS BACKING

TORIES CAUGHT OUT ON BUSINESS BACKING

PERTH TORY IN TROUBLE AGAIN

The Scottish National Party's Mr Pete Wishart,SNP General Election
candidate for Perth and North Perthshire has hit out at the Conservatives
for their “duplicitous” hijacking of local business opinion.

His comments follow reports today that business people in Perth had their
names added to an open letter by the local Tory candidate without their
knowledge. Describing their actions as a “desperate attempt” to shore up
support, Mr Wishart said:

“I have spoken to a number of the local business people named as
signatories to a Tory-inspired letter on National Insurance contributions
who assure me that they never agreed to have their names put to that letter
and are incandescent that they are assumed to support the Tories.

“This is a duplicitous attempt to rescue the flagging Conservative campaign
and it has rebounded spectacularly on them. It is also another example of
the lack of judgement of their inexperienced candidate. Over the last nine
years I have enjoyed a positive and fruitful relationship with the
Perthshire business community and I am appalled and concerned that a
Parliamentary candidate would seek to manipulate our business community in
this way.

“I have no doubt that many, if not all, of the people involved in running
businesses in Perthshire are opposed to the Labour Party's proposal to raise
National Insurance taxing jobs and taking money from our public services.

“Perthshire’s business community knows that the real threat to their
businesses comes from the massive Tory cuts that will be made from day one
if they ever secure the keys to Number 10. I will continue to campaign
honestly on behalf of Perth businesses and ensure that their interests are
championed.”