LIBDEMS 'SOLD SCOTLAND OUT' WITH TORY ALLIANCE

LIBDEMS 'SOLD SCOTLAND OUT' WITH TORY ALLIANCE

LABOUR INACTION AT WESTMINSTER HELPS BRING TORIES BACK TO POWER

Highlands and Islands MSP Dave Thompson has today (Sunday) responded to comments from the former leader of the Liberal Democrats, Charles Kennedy, in an article in today’s Observer.

In the piece, Kennedy outlines his concerns regarding the new Con-Dem coalition deal and says he would’ve preferred to “explore the possibilities of a so-called ‘progressive coalition’” – which would’ve included the SNP,Plaid Cymru and the Labour Party.

Commenting, Dave Thomspon said:

“This revelation comes as no real surprise, and there is clearly real anger amongst their membership – particularly in Scotland.

“On polling day, Scotland gave a resounding ‘No’ to the prospect of a Tory Government with 85% of the public rejecting David Cameron. As we’ve seen time and time again though, Scotland’s voice was deemed irrelevant and not heard by those in London.

“The SNP, along with Plaid Cymru, favoured the ‘progressive coalition’ that Charlie Kennedy speaks of. The Coalition would’ve included the SNP, Plaid Cymru, Labour and the Lib Dems – and would’ve kept the Tories out of power, and David Cameron out of Downing Street.

“By jumping into bed with Cameron’s Tories, Nick Clegg and Danny Alexander have sold Scotland out. But Labour must share some of the blame for allowing the Tories back in as they had no real intention of going into a progressive coalition and instead of protecting the country from the Tory cuts, they opted for the safety of opposition.

“Labour claimed that if you voted for them, they would stop the Tories. Well the people of Scotland did vote Labour, but they didn’t stop them. Blinded by their visceral hatred of the SNP, the progressive coalition talks were sabotaged by those representing Labour.

“It’s now clear that in Scotland Vote Lib Dem get Tories, vote Labour get Tories. The only way to stop the Tories is to vote for Independence, and then Scotland can take responsibility for its own actions and benefit from our vast natural resources.”