East Lothian Liberal Democrats

The Liberal Democrats have continued their campaign against a single, centralized police force for Scotland in Edinburgh.

Alistair Carmichael and candidate for Edinburgh Central Alex Cole-Hamilton met the Assistant Chief Constable of Lothian and Borders Police at Fettes Avenue Police Station before a photo and interview opportunity outside the station.

Commenting, Alistair Carmichael said:

"If Labour, the SNP and the Tories got their way, police decisions would be taken away from local police chiefs and given to nationally controlled bureaucrats.

"The Liberal Democrats are the only party campaigning against plans to create a single, centralised police force for Scotland.

"We are taking our campaign to Facebook today and want as many people as possible to sign up and save Scotland's police.

"This cut would not save money in the short term, which is when we need it to make progress cutting the deficit."

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Commenting as the NFUS launch their manifesto for the Scottish Parliament elections, Liberal Democrat Rural Affairs spokesperson Liam McArthur said:

"I am pleased to see that Scottish Liberal Democrats and the NFUS are singing from the same hymn sheet in so many areas. Joined up working is so important for the safeguarding of the agricultural industry.

"Scottish Liberal Democrats understand just how important the industry is to Scotland and the challenges that those within the industry face. We take our responsibility to the industry extremely seriously.

"We want to cut red tape and bureaucracy for farmers and crofters, reform procurement rules to encourage the purchase of local food and help smaller producers and farmers access the large public sector market. We are also committed to winning a fair deal on CAP funding for Scotland's farmers and crofters who currently receive some of the lowest payments in Europe.

"These are the right solutions for the Scottish agriculture and it is the Scottish Liberal Democrats who will protect this vital industry."

The Scottish Liberal Democrats have been highlighting their campaign against plans for a single Scottish police force in Aberdeen.

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Tavish Scott joined local campaigner and candidate for Aberdeen South John Sleigh at Nigg police station.

Commenting after the visit, Tavish Scott said:

"Grampian's chief constable says centralisation could cost 400 jobs in the North East.

"If Labour, the SNP and the Tories got their way, there would be 3000 fewer police officers on the streets across Scotland.

"Only the Liberal Democrats are standing up for local policing."

Clive Sneddon, Scottish Lib Dem candidate for South Angus, has criticised the SNP for their massive cuts on college funding.

Clive Sneddon was being shown round Arbroath on Monday of this week by Kevin Barthorpe chair of an Arbroath Residents association, including the Angus College which has made a robust defence of its contribution to the local and Scottish economy.

The huge cuts imposed by the SNP through the Scottish Funding Council will cause major problems for the Colleges.

Clive Sneddon commented:

"Angus College and Dundee colleges have to implement cuts of 10.4% in the year ahead in their teaching grant which in real terms is over 14%. This is a short sighted policy by the SNP as our local colleges have a justifiably excellent reputation and are now having to look at cutting courses; subjects, staff and supplies are going to be directly cut."

The Lib Dem candidate and former lecturer added:

"Our local colleges play a huge role in providing our Arbroath, Friockheim, Letham, Monifieth and Carnoustie students with the skills they need to get jobs and these SNP cuts will have a devastating affect on their future. Furthermore, these cuts will impact on the young people who are looking for jobs in our local economy in areas such as food and drink, caring and hospitality, and the newer industries such as renewables, so the SNP cuts are devastating for our local economy. They are the opposite of the support for growth and jobs provided in the UK budget."

Notes:

1. Additional funding was secured in the recently approved 2011-12 Scottish budget by the Scottish Liberal Democrats, amounting to £15 million for Further Education bursaries, and £8 million for an additional 1,200 college places with associated student support.

2. Until he retired in September 2010, Clive Sneddon was a Lecturer in French at the University of St Andrews.

Orkney and Shetland MP Alistair Carmichael has today welcomed changes to the income tax system that will put £200 back in the pockets of around 18,000 people in the Northern Isles.

The income tax threshold, the point from which people start paying their taxes, was raised today by £1,000 today to £7,475.

This increase is the first step toward the Liberal Democrat commitment to raise the income tax threshold to £10,000, with a further rise of the threshold due in 2012. In Orkney and Shetland, this change is expected to mean around 800 people will no longer have to pay income tax at all, with 18,000 in line for a tax cut.

Commenting, Mr Carmichael said:

'At a time when people are worried about their personal finances, this tax cut will help millions of people on lower and middle incomes. In Orkney and Shetland alone, 18,000 people will get an extra £200 to spend this year and I know this will make a real difference.

'Across the country as a whole, almost a million people will be lifted out of paying tax altogether across the country, while 23m people will get a tax cut.

'This tax cut is something that we campaigned on before the election and I am pleased that the policy has now completed the journey from the front page of our manifesto to the pockets of 23m tax payers.'

Deputy Prime Minister and Liberal Democrat Leader, Nick Clegg added:

'We have to make difficult decisions but we can still make life fairer and that's what Liberal Democrats in government and across Britain are doing.

'From today Liberal Democrats have delivered a £200 income tax cut to every basic rate taxpayer, and there's more to come - our ambition is a country where no one pays any income tax on the first £10,000 they earn.

'These are the kind of decisions Liberal Democrats are making in Government to make life just that little bit easier for people who are facing difficult times.'

Notes:

1. The raising of the Income Tax threshold to £10,000 was a priority for the Liberal Democrats in the General Election: it was one of four policies we put on the front of our manifesto (along with the pupil premium; a rebalanced economy; and long-lasting political reform).

2. We have already started to deliver on all four of those key priorities.

3. By 2012/13, the Income Tax Threshold will be raised to £8,105, meaning that Liberal Democrats will have lifted 1.1 million people out of paying tax and will have given 25 million people a tax cut worth £326.