Cole-Hamilton sets out plans to help North East to flourish on election pitstop
Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton has today used a visit to Aberdeen’s harbour to set out his party’s commitment to the North East of Scotland.
Alex set out a ten-point plan to support jobs, industries and the North East economy.
These include committing to:
• Urge the UK Government to replace the Energy Profits Levy as soon as possible with a stable, fair and proportional system.
• Bring down energy bills and protect you from volatile fossil fuel prices through an emergency insulation programme.
• Re-write community benefit rules so local people get much more of the money companies make from generating renewable energy near them.
• Set a timetable for the dualling of the A96 within the first 100 days of the new Parliament and upgrading bridges to bring them up to an acceptable condition and overcome weight restrictions, especially where communities have been divided by their closure.
• Establish a new skills strategy and fit training and education systems around it, so that the North East secures the skills it needs in everything from social care, nursing and teaching to engineering and construction.
• Launch a new Job Transition Loan to stand behind people looking to increase their income by making the move into self-employment or requalifying for a new better-paid career, helping people meet the costs of courses, training and accreditation.
• Recognise that the futures of the oil and gas industry and renewables are intertwined, avoiding polarising policies that fail them both and valuing the knowledge and experience of everyone working in existing industries.
• Worth with the UK Government to create a new carbon capture and storage industry, supporting around 15,000 jobs at its peak.
• Ringfence agriculture funding, protect support payments and move to 3-year funding deals to give farmers the confidence and certainty they need.
• Help fishermen to provide healthy high protein food, food security and sustainable management of the seas, by continuing to demand the UK Government allocate Scotland its fair share of the Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund, and distributing the Scottish portion of the funding proportionately to reflect where landings occur.
Alex Cole-Hamilton said:
“I’m delighted to be visiting Aberdeen and speaking to workers and businesses.
“The North East has been failed by the SNP and the Conservatives. Workers who were promised a just transition have been let down, with jobs vanishing and Scotland at risk of losing the very talent we need to build a greener future. We think Scotland deserves better than this.
“For Scottish Liberal Democrats, delivering change with fairness at its heart means no one and nowhere can be left behind.
“That’s why I am setting out a plan to support jobs, industries and North East communities.
“Across Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Angus and Dundee people have a long history of backing Liberal Democrat councillors and parliamentarians. I want to help people rediscover that tradition of Lib Dem support. Wherever you are across the North East, every vote for the Scottish Liberal Democrats on the second peach ballot will deliver change with fairness at its heart.”
Lead list candidate for North East Scotland, Yi-pei Chou Turvey said:
“Over this campaign I have knocked on hundreds of doors and what people say to me is that they feel tired and frustrated. They deserve better.
“The SNP have had too long in power. They don't get business and their track record proves they don't care about it. A vote for Scottish Liberal Democrats on that peach regional ballot can remove the SNP from government. It is a powerful weapon in the hands of every voter in the North East.
“What you get with Scottish Liberal Democrats is a realistic plan to get things done. You can back that on your peach regional ballot paper in this election.”