Nicol Stephen MSP, Scottish Liberal Democrat Leader writes - "After a flying start to our election campaign, the month has begun with promise and a positive message from the Liberal Democrats for a bright future across Scotland.
News items in Eaglescliffe Ward.
In 1997 when Tony Blair won power Labour was full of promises but they have failed to keep them. Despite pledging not to, Tony Blair introduced student tuition fees and top-up fees - a tax on learning. Labour has attacked our civil rights with their expensive ID card plans. ID Cards will not cut terrorism, crime or prevent fraud but there will be an increase in the number of black and Asian people who will be stopped and searched by the police simply because of their skin colour.
The local Tories are making up tales about the Liberal Democrats on the City Council. They claim the Lib Dem councillors always vote with Labour. This is just not true. Liberal Democrat councillors oppose Labour when they disagree with them and vote with Labour when they agree with them. That's called grown up politics, not just opposition for the sake of it.
You can view the Scottish Liberal Democrats' latest TV broadcast by following the link : www.scotlibdems.org.uk/the-first-party-political-broadcast
Rochdale MP Paul Rowen has accused Chancellor Gordon Brown of 'abandoning Rochdale's poorest' by the doubling of the starting rate of income tax rate. This means in real terms that anyone earning less than around £15,000 will pay more in income tax. Cutting the basic rate of income tax and axing the 10p lower tax rate means in reality that many people in Rochdale, where an above the national average percentage of the population earn below £15,000 will be affected.
