MORE VOICES SPEAK UP ON MINIMUM PRICING

MORE VOICES SPEAK UP ON MINIMUM PRICING

SNP MSP Michael Matheson has today welcomed the support of children’s charities for the Government’s proposals to tackle the problem of alcohol in our society.

Children’s organisations NSPCC ChildLine, Children 1^st, Aberlour, Youthlink Scotland, Barnardo’s Scotland, Action for Children Scotland, Quarriers and Parenting across Scotland have issued a joint statement in support of minimum pricing alongside other measures in the SNP Government’s bill.

Their support, revealed in the Herald today, comes as the Scottish Association for Mental Health (SAMH), UK Faculty for Public Health and National Union of Students endorsed plans to introduce minimum pricing in the Government’s legislation.

SAMH state in their evidence to the Parliament’s health committee

“As a health promoting organisation, we would urge politicians of all parties to back plans for the minimum pricing of alcohol.”

The UK Faculty of Public Health state that:

“Tackling price and availability are the most effective alcohol policies. A
minimum price per unit of alcohol sold would have a significant impact on
alcohol consumption and reduce harm.”

And National Union of Students state that;

“NUS Scotland supports a minimum price for alcohol. We believe that minimum pricing should reflect the potential harm that the alcohol could cause and therefore agree with the principle of linking minimum price to the strength of the alcoholic drink.”

Mr Matheson,a member of the Parliament's Health Committee said:

“This new support for minimum pricing is welcome and shows that a wide spectrum of organisations see the logic of the Government’s proposal.

“Children are often the victims of our problem with alcohol and cutting consumption could bring real benefits to the families who face the human cost of Scotland’s relationship with alcohol.

“We must remember that serious and harmful drinkers often have an affect on more than just themselves

“Alongside children’s organisations support is building for the Scottish Government’s proposals from a broad section of society. I would urge all parties to consider the evidence and arguments openly and carefully as the health committee continues it’s hearings into the issue.”

NON-DOM DONOR “SIMPLY WRONG”

NON-DOM DONOR “SIMPLY WRONG”

SAME OLD TORIES: OUT OF TOUCH AND OUT OF FAVOUR

SNP Constitutional Affairs spokesman Pete Wishart MP has hit out at the admission by Tory party donor and deputy party chairman, Lord Ashcroft, that he is non-domiciled in the UK for tax.

Lord Ashcroft’s revelation flies in the face of Tory leader David Cameron's call for anyone in the Lords to be "resident and domiciled".

Commenting Mr Wishart said:

“It says a great deal that it has taken years to wring this admission out of the Tories. They are obviously, quite rightly, ashamed of this revelation which directly contradicts their public position.

“The Conservatives can pretend to be a progressive party of change but this admission shows they are just the same old Tories: out of touch and out of favour.

“Lord Ashcroft is non-domiciled in the UK for tax purposes but can yield his financial power to plough million of pounds into Tory target seats. This is simply wrong.

“Meanwhile Conservative candidates in Scotland have empty piggy banks at a local level and are failing spectacularly to get support from the public to raise funds.

“The public clearly isn’t convinced by Tory spin and sound bites. It is not the party of real change but rather the party of short change for Scotland.”

PUBLIC SPEAK OUT AGAINST WESTMINSTER CUTS

PUBLIC SPEAK OUT AGAINST WESTMINSTER CUTS

MORE LOCAL CHAMPIONS MEANS FEWER LONDON CUTS

SNP ONLY PARTY OF INVESTMENT NOT CUTS

The SNP’s call for investment in public spending rather than the sharp
cuts offered by Labour, Tory and Lib Dems has the overwhelming backing of
Scotland’s voters according to new figures from Yougov.

The latest YouGov poll, for the Scotsman, shows that 46% of people think
the Government should not cut spending too soon - rejecting Labour's £800
million of cuts to Scotland and the further cuts planned by all three
London parties – because it risks putting Scotland back into recession.
Only 38% believe spending should be cut now.

Alistair Darling cut £800 million from Scotland’s public services in the
UK budget in November and refused to invest £300 million of capital in
delivering housing and investment as we recover from Labour’s recession –
rejecting Scottish Government efforts to rebuild the economy.

First Minister Alex Salmond and Finance Secretary John Swinney have
written to the London parties making the case for continued investment not
cuts.

SNP Treasury Spokesman and Westminster Campaign Co-ordinator Stewart Hosie
MP said:

“It is only by rejecting the traditional Westminster politics and electing
SNP MPs as local champions that Scotland’s voters can secure investment
not cuts in Scotland’s public services.

“The only difference in Scotland between Labour cuts and Tory cuts is the
£800 million of cuts to this year’s budget already slashed from Scottish
spending by the Labour.

“The phoney war between Labour and the Tories will fool no one. Neither
party is willing to commit to keeping Scotland’s budget intact this year
and both parties would rather build new nuclear weapons than protect
public services.

“There can be no denying that Labour’s recession has to be paid for but
any cuts to funding now will seriously hinder Scotland’s efforts to
recover strongly from recession.

“It is only the pressure that SNP MPs can bring to bear in the new
Parliament that will protect Scotland’s public services from the harsh
spending cuts Alistair Darling and George Osborne are queuing up to make.”

SNP HAIL NEW MORI POLL

SNP HAIL NEW MORI POLL

7-POINT LEAD FOR HOLYROOD AND NECK-AND-NECK FOR WESTMINSTER

The Scottish National Party welcomed the findings of the latest Ipsos/MORI poll of Scottish voting intentions – which shows the SNP 7 points ahead of Labour in Scottish Parliament voting intentions, and just two points behind for the General Election at 32 per cent.

SNP Depute Leader and Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said:

“This is a fantastic poll for the SNP and the Scottish Government, and hugely encouraging. We are neck-and neck with Labour in Westminster voting intentions, and we have a substantial 7-point lead in Scottish Parliament voting intentions.

“It is ‘game on’ in Scotland for the General Election, which is a clear two-horse race between the SNP and Labour.

“This is far and away the strongest ever position the SNP have entered a UK General Election. Having put the difficulties of recent weeks well and truly behind us, we are in a great position to improve our position even further in the weeks ahead.

“Almost three years into government, this level of public support is extraordinarily strong, and the First Minister’s ratings are also strong and positive.

“We have more support now than when we won the Holyrood election in 2007 – the other parties are all down – and our Westminster support has nearly doubled since the last General Election.

“And we have a compelling message for the General Election to champion Scotland’s interests at Westminster. Just as we are on the front foot on the constitution with the publication of the draft Referendum Bill, the SNP’s winning message is that Scotland needs real economic powers to succeed – and needs SNP MPs to be champions for their constituency and country at Westminster.”