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Labour exposed as ‘weak and divided’ on Scotland’s place in the UK

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Labour exposed as ‘weak and divided’ on Scotland’s place in the UK

22 May 2017

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Labour’s weakness on the union, running from Jeremy Corbyn and Kezia Dugdale downwards, has been exposed in a new dossier.

The party will launch their Scottish manifesto today claiming to oppose a second independence referendum.

However, a number of current General Election candidates have backed separation, while numerous former senior party figures also endorse the SNP’s bid to break up Britain.

Now a document produced by the Scottish Conservatives reveals the division at the heart of Labour on the constitution.

It includes quotes from Scottish leader Kezia Dugdale previously saying she might consider voting Yes in future referendums, as well as remarks from UK leader Jeremy Corbyn stating he’s “absolutely fine” with another divisive vote.

Deputy leader Alex Rowley – fresh from his weekend threat to ban councillors who go into coalition with the Scottish Conservatives – has also expressed his sympathy for another referendum.

A number of Labour candidates standing next month are backers of the Yes campaign, the dossier shows.

Douglas Beattie, candidate for Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale, campaigned for independence in 2014 and revealed himself to be “gutted” when No won.

In Moray, Labour’s candidate Jo Kirby shared numerous articles on social media promoting the SNP.
And Sally Prentice, the candidate for the Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire by-election at Holyrood, openly urged SNP voters to back Labour – as that was the best way to secure independence.

Labour figures who back a separation vote include ex-leader Henry McLeish and former MP Eric Joyce.

Scottish Conservative candidate for Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk, John Lamont, said:

“Kezia Dugdale and Jeremy Corbyn cannot be trusted on the union – the record speaks for itself.

“Labour may pretend that it opposes a second referendum on independence.

“But not only do a series of candidates for next month say the complete opposite, Corbyn himself has said he’s ‘absolutely fine’ with it.

“We know exactly where Labour’s constitutional priorities lie – they want to prop up the SNP in councils across the country, and suspend any councillors who choose instead to work with the Scottish Conservatives.

“This dossier exposes the weakness and division at the heart of Labour on this matter.

“And it proves the only party serious about taking on the SNP and keeping Scotland a key part of the UK are the Scottish Conservatives.”

For more on Labour’s weakness on the union, visit:
http://www.scottishconservatives.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/2017-04-22-Weak-and-Divided-Scottish-Labour-on-the-union.pdf

May 22, 2017 S.DouglasScottish Conservativesscottish Conservatives

Site works pave the way for new HQ and e-commerce centre for Charlies Stores in Welshpool

To mark the start of work Economy Secretary Ken Skates joined Charlies Stores Managing Director Designate Rebecca Lloyd on the seven acre site to cut the first turf.

They met representatives from Alun Griffiths Ltd civil engineering and construction contractors that are undertaking works valued at £676,000 to prepare site for the planned 108,000 sq ft facility.

Separate orders totalling £76,000 have also been placed with Scottish Power, Severn Trent Water and Wales & West Utilities for the diversion of the electric, water & gas mains on site.

Ken Skates said:

“The Welsh Government has worked closely with Charlies Stores to support their plans to expand and grow in mid Wales and I am delighted work is now underway preparing the site for development.

“Charlies are a very important employer and their planned investment will ensure its continued long term sustainable growth in Mid Wales, supporting and creating jobs locally and helping to develop the competitive edge of this particular region of Wales.”

Rebecca Lloyd said:

“We are delighted to see groundwork begin on our new headquarters and distribution centre. We are proud to call mid Wales our home and are pleased we can continue to do this with this new state-of-the-art facility. As a growing business, this represents an exciting time for us and will give us the option to expand even further in the future.”

The company employs more than 400 staff across eight stores, selling goods ranging from footwear and cooking utensils to chainsaws and camping equipment. Online sales have sales have seen an 80% year on year growth with ambitions for internet sales driving its future growth.

It currently operates across multiple sites in Newtown and Welshpool, many of which are reaching full capacity – consolidating these operations under one roof at the planned new e-commerce centre will enable the company to increase efficiencies, serve a larger number of stores and grow its web based business.

It has outlets in Newtown, Welshpool, Aberystwyth, Carmarthen, Deeside and Shrewsbury. Last year it opened a second outlet in Aberystwyth.

The work includes levelling the site, diverting a public footpath, the demolition of existing infrastructure works including a length of road and an electricity sub station. The completion in summer August 2017 will the trigger the sale of the site to Charlies Stores.

May 22, 2017 NewsWelsh Governmentpolitics • Welsh Government

SCOTTISH LABOUR MANIFESTO TO OPPOSE ANOTHER DIVISIVE REFERENDUM

22 May 2017

SCOTTISH LABOUR MANIFESTO TO OPPOSE ANOTHER DIVISIVE REFERENDUM

Opposition to another divisive independence referendum will be at the heart of Scottish Labour’s manifesto to be launched today.

Writing in the Scottish Labour manifesto, Kezia Dugdale and Jeremy Corbyn both condemn the SNP’s focus on independence at the expense of the day job.

The manifesto states:

Labour opposes a second Scottish independence referendum. It is unwanted and unnecessary, and we will campaign tirelessly to ensure that Scotland remains part of the UK.

Independence would lead to turbo-charged austerity for Scottish families. Scotland would face a £15 billion deficit if the UK were to be torn apart, hurting the poorest and most vulnerable in our society.

The SNP needs to respect the verdict of the majority of Scots in 2014 and abandon its divisive plan to re-run the referendum. It needs to get on with the day job and reverse the cuts being inflicted on Scotland’s public services.

Scottish Labour will never support independence, because we believe that together we’re stronger.

Labour’s UK manifesto also confirmed the party’s strong opposition to both another divisive independence referendum and separation itself.

In her manifesto foreword, Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale writes:

“Labour is the only party which knows it is the power of the whole UK working in partnership which benefits the many, not the few – that is at the root of our belief that together we’re stronger.

“That is why Labour opposes independence and a second divisive independence referendum. Independence is not the answer to dealing with Scotland’s flagging economy or our pressured public services.

“The SNP has one focus – independence. Labour will campaign tirelessly to ensure that the desire of the majority of Scots to remain part of the UK is respected.”

In his manifesto foreword, UK Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn writes:

“In Scotland, child poverty is increasing, the number of those working but still classified as poor is at its highest level since devolution, and health inequalities stubbornly persist. Rather than tackle poverty, the SNP obsesses over another reckless referendum that threatens people’s futures.

“Labour is opposed to independence because it would inflict turbo-charged austerity on the Scottish people. We will stand firm in our opposition to a second referendum because we know that together we’re stronger and unity is still our strength.

“Historically, it has been the solidarity and common endeavour of our Labour and trade union movement that has transformed the lives of the many, not the few, in our great country.

“Just as it has always been the case, only our movement offers the hope and the contemporary solutions to society’s problems. Nationalism, in whatever form, does not.”

May 21, 2017 Scottish Labour Party BlogScottish LabourScottish Labour

Damian Green has let the cat out the bag, the Tories are offering no new money for the NHS at this election – Jonathan Ashworth

Jonathan Ashworth, Labour’s Shadow Health Secretary, responding to Damian Green’s comments on the Andrew Marr Show that the Tories £8bn NHS manifesto pledge involves reallocating existing budgets, said:

“Damian Green has let the cat out the bag. The Tories are offering no new money for the NHS at this election, but instead their offer involves reallocating existing budgets. In 2015 they said they’d give the NHS £10bn and it turned out to be untrue. They’re up to the same tricks again.

“As part of Labour’s fully costed manifesto, we are offering the NHS a cash boost of £8bn this year, including money for urgently needed capital works, and we’ve said how we will pay for it. Only Labour will give the NHS the funding it needs to deliver a truly modern, 21^st Century service for Britain’s patients. Under the Tories the NHS will continue to be underfunded and overstretched and it is patients who will pay the price.”

May 21, 2017 GovWorldMagLabourLabour • Labour Party

Labour’s Pledges to Pensioners

Labour will stand up for older people and has made five key pledges to ensure older people have the security and dignity they deserve:

1. Secure pensioner incomes with the Triple-Lock on state pensions.

2. Protect the Winter Fuel Allowance and free bus passes for pensioners.

3. An extra £45 billion for the NHS and social care.

4. No rise in the state pension age beyond 66.

5. Justice for women born in the 1950s hit by five year rise in pension age.

Theresa May’s government has failed older people, their cuts to social care have resulted in over one million older people not getting the care they need. Labour will spend an extra £45 billion on the NHS and social care over five years.

The Conservative Party manifesto has promised three major new burdens to be placed on older people:

1. Scrapping the ‘triple lock’ on state pensions so that pensioner incomes are no longer protected.

2. Means testing Winter Fuel Payments to remove support to heat the homes of ten million pensioners

3. Forcing those who need social care to pay for it with their homes.

Pensioners would be at least £330 worse off under the Tories’ new Double Lock had it been in place between 2013/14 and 2017/18, compared with the basic state pension being uprated by the Triple Lock. Under Theresa May’s plan, ten million people – five out of six pensioners – are set to lose their Winter Fuel Payments, worth up to £300.

Jeremy Corbyn, Leader of the Labour party, said:

“Not satisfied with plunging our social care system into crisis, Theresa May’s nasty party has promised more attacks on older people: scrapping the triple-lock on state pensions, removing the Winter Fuel Allowance and asset stripping the ill by forcing those who need social care to pay for it with their homes.

“Labour will protect the Winter Fuel Allowance and Triple-Lock on state pensions to deliver a secure and dignified retirement for all, and spend an extra £45 billion on the NHS and social care over five years, so that older people can get the care they deserve.

“Theresa May and the Conservatives won’t stand up for pensioners, their only concern is their billionaire friends. Labour is proud to stand up for the many, not the few.”