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Edwards outlines measures to protect motorists
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SNP candidate for East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow Douglas Edwards spoke about measures the SNP would introduce to protect motorists and road users from the impact at the pumps of higher international oil prices.
The proposal would see the introduction of a Road Fuel Regulator so that higher oil prices trigger lower fuel duties, which make up 60 per cent of the price of petrol and diesel. The Regulator would result in an automatic freeze on fuel duty increases and a reduction in duty to match any increases in VAT.
In Scotland average prices are already higher than the levels when the road fuel protests took place in 2000. Diesel is at 85.4p and super unleaded 86.7p. In 2000 average price reached 85.3p.
Commenting Douglas said:
"Gordon Brown's fuel duty escalator pumped up petrol prices. Now, this fuel duty regulator will help keep them down, with the benefit felt by motorists and road hauliers in East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow and across Scotland.
"Motorists and the road haulage industry have had a raw deal in recent years
"Every time oil prices go up we pay through the nose. However Gordon Brown rakes in the loot not just from corporation tax but also from increased VAT on the rising price at the pumps.
"Ironically Scotland as one of world's largest oil producers is hit hardest as our haulage industry is most vulnerable to high pump prices.
"They shouldn't have to wait on the whim of the Chancellor for a degree of protection from higher fuel costs. Long suffering motorists and hard-pressed hauliers should have some degree of protection from rising oil prices.
"This proposal would see a double protection for motorists and the road haulage industry. First, higher oil prices would trigger an automatic freeze in fuel duty rates, and second, any extra cash raised from VAT would go straight back into an equivalent cut in fuel duty. And the penny-pinching Chancellor would be no worse off than he forecast in his pre-budget statement."
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SNP challenge Labour over Nuclear Weapons
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SNP candidate, Douglas Edwards, has challenged Adam Ingram to say if he will support replacing the trident nuclear system or if he would rather the money was invested in health and education.
This follows Tony Blair confirming that a Labour government would replace the Trident nuclear system with a new generation nuclear weapon.
The confirmation came in reply to a question from Jeremy Paxman on the Newsnight election special interview on Wednesday 20th April. Commenting Douglas said:
"Labour has confirmed that they would replace Trident and land a new generation nuclear weapon on the Clyde. This decision proves British Labour Party is out of touch with public opinion in Scotland. Only last week a poll in Scotland showed 78% of Scots opposed to a new nuclear weapon.
"The final decision on 'son of Trident' is due in the next parliament and for the first time since 1983, candidates elected in May will have a clear choice to make. Do they, like Adam Ingram, want billions more wasted on Britain's weapons of mass destruction or do they favour a real peace dividend?
"The future of Trident will be one of the most important decisions we make in this election and Labour has now put it front and centre in this campaign. This is a decision that will impact on the people of the west of Scotland for a generation.
"Labour want to proceed with this nuclear madness. Only the SNP stand for a nuclear free Scotland and only a vote for the SNP is a vote to stop son of Trident.
"This election can be about creating a better and safer future for Scotland. A good first step will be saying no to 'son of Trident'. This is a key challenge to Adam Ingram in this campaign – does he back Scotland or discredited PM?"
NOTE – Tony Blair's 1983 election address states his then opposition to spending £10 billion on Trident.
A recent poll by System Three in Scotland asked: In the next parliament, the government is due to make a decision on the purchase of a new generation nuclear missile system to replace Trident, at a cost of around £20 billion. Would you support or oppose the government buying a new nuclear missile system to replace Trident?
The results were:
Support - 13%
Oppose - 78%
Don't Know - 9%
Sample of 922, fieldwork 31st March to 7th April 2005
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Labour make false claims over health pledge
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The SNP today accused Labour of making false claims about their health pledges north of the border. The SNP produced a letter received by Scots voters and signed by deputy Labour leader John Prescott, repeating the error of comparing targets north and south of the border.
Mr. Prescott's letter states that Labour have set an 18-week target for treatment on the NHS, despite the fact that Scottish Labour reveled last week that their target for treatment is 36 weeks - double that set for England.
Douglas Edwards said:
"It is an absolute disgrace that the Labour party is willfully misleading the Scottish electorate. They should be straight with Scottish voters whom they have let down with their mismanagement of the health service. It is not acceptable and people will not stand for it.
"Adam Ingram and Labour ought to be ashamed of their record on the NHS. They have pledged that people should have to wait up to 18 weeks in England but 36 weeks in Scotland. The simple fact is that people are waiting longer, despite all Labour's promises. More people are waiting for treatment and far too many are waiting far too long.
"The SNP will focus on treating people faster and closer to home. We will tackle Labour's health failures. The SNP will make Scotland's health service matter at this Election and give Scotland the strongest possible voice at Westminster."
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Candidate enjoys a walk in the rain
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Douglas Edwards the SNP Candidate for East Kilbride Strathaven and Lesmahagow attended the start of a sponsored walk organised by Christian Aid and accompanied the walkers around the Heritage Loch in East Kilbride.
The walkers were sponsored by people who had promised to write letters to the Prime Minister regarding trade justice and the effect that international trade rules have on poverty around the world. Also to ask of the government what they plan do to ensure poor countries can trade fairly in the world market. Fair trading will help poor farmers to feed their families.
This is an issue that Douglas feels strongly about and with the G8 summit being held in Gleneagles this summer it is an important time to put pressure on the government and raise the issue of fair trade and debt reduction.
Douglas first encountered these issues when living in the Gambia in West Africa while working with Voluntary Services Overseas. Here he saw for himself the effects of current unfair trading practices on local living standards. Rice from the USA flooded the markets at prices lower than the local farmers could produce it and the best local produce was sent abroad to help pay for the country’s debt instead being consumed locally.
An important element of helping poor countries is reducing debt. This should also be on the government’s agenda at the G8 Summit as the cancellation or significant reduction of debt would make an incredible difference to poorer countries. It is now time for the better off countries of the world to make a concerted effort to help the poor.
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SNP unveils 'people's manifesto'
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The Scottish National Party has set out its "people's manifesto" which will focus on improving the lives of voters in Scotland.
Its measures include creating jobs for young Scots, increasing support for young families and boosting pensions.
The SNP is also committed to a nuclear-free Scotland and to saving the Scottish regiments.
The manifesto "is made in Scotland for Scotland," East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow Candidate Douglas Edwards said.
The SNP have already outlined their vision for the NHS in Scotland and announced plans to introduce more free nursery education and smaller class sizes for P1 to P3 in Scotland.
Speaking after the launch, Douglas Edwards said: "This is a people's manifesto for a free Scotland. It is made in Scotland for Scotland.
"It is a manifesto to make Scotland matter in this election, a manifesto focused on a better future for the people of Scotland.
"We want to boost Scotland's national wealth, so we can invest in more opportunities for young Scots, deliver more help for Scottish families and boost the incomes of our pensioners.
"Scotland doesn't want a forced choice between Michael Howard, a Tory who introduced the poll tax, or Tony Blair, a Tory who took us into an illegal war.
"People want a Scottish option - a party that will make Scotland matter in May, a party with the vision to create a new Scotland."
Douglas cited the example of other small independent European countries which had proved themselves more economically successful than Scotland.
He said: "Scotland has the lowest long-term economic growth in the whole of Europe.
"If we were to match - over the next 10 years - the average economic growth rate of other European countries then there would be an additional £19bn in the Scottish economy.
"That's £4,000 per head for everyone in Scotland.
"So independence would be good for the economy and it would be good for the Scottish people".
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