Economic growth is top of the election agenda - Alex Cole-Hamilton
No matter where I’ve been in Scotland over the last few weeks, the same thing has been at the front of people’s minds: the economy.
We all agree that Scotland has so much going for it. We’ve got amazing food and drink, plentiful resources, a talented population and great places to visit. Despite that, it still feels like things aren’t what they should be, doesn’t it?
Household bills are going up, but wages aren’t. Opportunities for our young people leaving school, college or university feel harder to come by than they were for previous generations.
We’re also paying record high levels of tax in Scotland. That would be fine if we had the public services and amenities to match, but we don’t. It’s difficult to see a GP or NHS dentist, education is far from its best, and many of our roads are downright dangerous.
And despite what their leaflets imply, it’s all happened on the SNP’s watch. They’ve been in power for 19 years.
I’m optimistic for Scotland. I believe we can reverse the nearly two decades of SNP mismanagement and do what absolutely needs to be done without delay - grow our economy.
To do that, on day one of the next Parliament, Scottish Liberal Democrats will bring together key figures from Scottish business and other important stakeholders to work with us to set our economic policy and agenda.
Unlike other, more dogmatic parties, we know we don’t have all the answers or expertise needed to right the ship, but we know who does – and we will work with them to get Scotland growing again.
We’ll also fund key capital investment projects, finally getting the A9 dualled and accelerating work on the tunnels for Shetland. Our country will never reach its true potential without proper infrastructure and transport in place. That will be our priority, not constitutional division or scapegoating minorities.
Scottish Liberal Democrats will also cut government waste. We’ll put an end to the extravagant culture of pay and bonuses in the public sector by linking reward with success and stamping out the culture of rewarding failure.
Talking about the economy without talking about tax is irresponsible. Public spending and investment has to be paid for, and the money for it comes out of people’s pockets. Other parties are going into this election making big promises about raising or lowering income tax. We’re not.
Our proposition is to keep those rates of tax that come under the remit of the Scottish Parliament where they are for now, with a view to lowering them once we’ve cleaned up the SNP’s mess and got Scotland’s economy growing again.
That, in my view, is the responsible thing to do.
In just a few weeks, people across Scotland can end the SNP’s shoddy stewardship of the Scottish economy.
In ten seats, including Edinburgh North Western and Edinburgh Northern, we’ve got the beating of them.
And no matter where you are in the city or country, you can use that second peach coloured regional ballot paper to elect a Scottish Liberal Democrat MSP and actively vote for the economic growth we need to deliver change with fairness at its heart.