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Government's VED changes an unacceptable tax grab on Glasgow East - 18th July 2008
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Commenting as Scottish Conservatives focused on the Government’s retrospective Vehicle Excise Duty tax, Annabel Goldie MSP, Scottish Conservative Leader, said:
“Backdated Vehicle Excise duty hits twice as many families twice as hard as the Labour Government’s 10p tax fiasco and that is awful. Ordinary, hard-working people who purchased a car several years ago on the basis that it was the best choice for them will be severely penalised. On the back of the extra £112 per annum that the most vulnerable families have lost because of the 10p tax issue, an extra tax grab is simply not acceptable.
“Conservatives totally oppose this unfair and retrospective tax being forced on hard-pressed families by a Labour Government that should be doing more to help.”
Davena Rankin, Scottish Conservative candidate in the Glasgow East by-election, said:
“People in Glasgow East cannot afford to wait for the Government to dither for a year and admit this is a mistake, like they did with the 10p tax. The cars at risk here tend to be older cars owned by families or those on low incomes. They should not be punished in this way – Gordon Brown needs to understand that people in Glasgow East need help with the rising cost of living and high fuel prices, not more tax.”
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Scottish Conservatives ‘stretch and tone’ in Glasgow East - 16th July 2008
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Commenting after she took part in ‘stretch and tone’ class with Annabel Goldie MSP and Mary Scanlon MSP at Tollcross Leisure Centre, Davena Rankin, Scottish Conservative candidate in the Glasgow East by-election, said:
“Taking small steps such as this can make a huge difference to your quality of life and can even prolong it. Initiatives such as the ‘stretch and tone’ class at the Tollcross Leisure Centre are a great way for local people to socialize, have fun and keep fit all at the same time and I’m delighted that we were able to take part.”
Annabel Goldie MSP, Leader of the Scottish Conservative MSPs, said:
“It was great fun taking part in the ‘stretch and tone’ class this morning. There were lots of people there - regular attenders and far fitter than me. It shows that people, with encouragement and facilities, will make pro-active health and life choices for themselves. The Tollcross Leisure Centre is a superb example of how to achieve this. It’s a great advert for the East End of Glasgow.”
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Labour’s Criminal Record - 14th July 2008
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Commenting after the Scottish Conservatives launched our latest leaflet, ‘Labour’s Criminal Record’, Davena Rankin, Scottish Conservative candidate in the Glasgow East by-election, said:
“In Labour’s Glasgow, there is now a serious assault every four hours, a rape or attempted rape or indecent assault every 20 hours, and a drug crime every single hour. To have presided over such a breakdown is a disgrace. Labour has let down the most vulnerable and this has been going on for far too long.
“I will be a strong voice for the people of Glasgow East - those who have been neglected and left afraid of becoming a victim of crime. Labour’s Criminal Record is one that we will end.”
Annabel Goldie MSP, Scottish Conservative Leader, said:
“Labour’s record is indeed a betrayal of people in Glasgow and Scottish Conservatives are determined to tackle it. That is why, in the past year, in the Scottish Parliament, we have forced the SNP to pledge the 1, 000 new police officers that they initially promised, and we have obtained a new, national strategy on drugs abuse. The Nationalists want a soft-touch Scotland, with more Home Detention Curfews and empty prisons. The Scottish Conservatives will fight this tooth and nail.
“In Davena Rankin, we have a determined and hard-working local representative, who will stand up for communities in Glasgow East and send a message to criminals that this soft-touch approach will no longer be tolerated.”
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Cost of living out of control – Time for the Conservatives - 11th July 2008
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Commenting as she focused upon the cost of living in her campaign today, Davena Rankin, Scottish Conservative candidate in the Glasgow East by-election, said:
“Food price inflation is hitting ordinary families hard in the pocket, as is the outrageous cost of fuel, due to high oil prices. Things we used to take for granted are becoming financially crippling, and they look set to get worse under Labour.
“This week we have had Labour’s car tax raid, which could, according to UK figures, hammer around 85,000 drivers in Glasgow. It is clear that the people in areas such as Glasgow East have been forgotten by the party that claimed to care about them most.
“George Osborne, the Shadow Chancellor, has proposed a fuel price regulator which would cut fuel by 5p per litre. This would go some way to easing the burden we are currently all suffering, as well as instigating a round robin effect in lowering prices – for example the extra cost in food is mainly due to the extra cost of getting goods to market.
“Even allowing for the fact that global events have shaped much of the current predicaments we face, Labour has no solutions except to demand more money from us. It’s time Glasgow East has an MP determined to stand up for the people of this constituency, and that’s what I am determined to do.”
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SNP’s role in creating ‘Soft-touch Scotland’ - 9th July 2008
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Speaking as she campaigned in Baillieston for the Glasgow East by-election, Annabel Goldie MSP, Scottish Conservative Leader, said:
“I am staggered by the comments of the SNP candidate in the Glasgow East by-election when he pretends that the SNP is not soft on crime. He is out of touch with his own party.
“It is the SNP which wants to let 4,000 criminals out of our jails. It is the SNP which wants convicts in the community. It is the SNP, and Labour and the Lib Dems, who voted three times to keep early release for violent criminals, when the Scottish Conservatives tried to restore honesty in sentencing.
“Only the Scottish Conservatives stand up for victims and the communities scarred by crime. If John Mason is really serious about tackling violent crime, he should join the Scottish Conservatives, because it is the SNP which has created this soft-touch Scotland.”
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SNP Own Goal - 9th July 2008
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Commenting as the SNP candidate in Glasgow East effectively called on his own boss to become a full time MSP, Scottish Conservative leader Annabel Goldie said:
"John Mason has given the right advice. Margaret Curren must choose. Why should any constituency only have a part-time MP or MSP? You cannot serve two masters at the same time. But what is sauce for the Labour goose is sauce for the nationalist gander….so will his leader Alex Salmond listen and resign his Westminster seat immediately?
"If not, then is just another SNP swipe at Labour, with the Nationalists having no intention of taking their own advice. It is nothing more than brazen arrogance and rank hypocrisy. And a spectacular own goal.
"The people of Glasgow East deserve better."
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Cameron: Labour is treating people of Glasgow East like fools - 5th July 2008
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Commenting ahead of his visit to the Glasgow East by-election campaign tomorrow, David Cameron MP, UK Conservative Party Leader, said:
“The challenges facing the people of Glasgow East have been well documented. That is why this visit with Iain Duncan Smith is so important. We will meet with some of the amazing people who work tirelessly to mend broken lives in their communities.
“The solutions to the deepest problems of generational poverty, dependency and unemployment will take a generation to address and we must move beyond the sticking plaster politics of pretending that there are any easy or quick fixes. The answers will lie with the people themselves in this great City and this by-election can play an important role in giving them a voice.
“Because the voters will have a choice. A choice between rewarding a Labour Party rudderless in London, leaderless in Scotland and in disarray in Glasgow. Or the Nationalists who view the vote as just another chance to further their agenda of breaking up Britain.
“Or a positive change with the Conservatives. Davena Rankin would be a first class and full time MP, in contrast to Labour’s latest favoured candidate who is 5th choice and wants to be a part time MP.
“Labour is treating the voters of Glasgow East like fools.
“Glasgow deserves a local champion dedicated to fighting for its people. That is why I am proud to be in Glasgow to campaign with Davena and Annabel and Iain. They have, through words and deeds shown a remarkable level of commitment and understanding of the challenges ahead.”
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Not about Brown, not about Salmond – this election is about Glasgow East - 4th July 2008
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Commenting after the Scottish Conservatives launched their by-election campaign in Glasgow East, Davena Rankin, Scottish Conservative Candidate said:
“I am delighted with the response I’ve had so far – today we met non-voters and lifelong labour voters who have pledged to vote Conservative. No-one will deny that it is a mountain to climb but I am offering every voter a clear choice; continuing with the failure of Labour, risking everything with the Nationalists or change with the Conservatives.
I love this city, I was born in this city and I am angry at the decades of Labour neglect. I want to change that, to be a strong voice for people who feel let down by Labour but who don’t want to change their identity. A vote for me is a vote for someone who cares about Glasgow and who will use their experience of being a union representative to fight Glasgow’s corner at every turn.”
Annabel Goldie MSP, Scottish Conservative Leader, said:
“Scottish politics is now a three horse race and whilst we are still currently the third horse, I sense a change in direction and a shift of power. You only have to see how frightened Labour are of losing one of their safest seats to smell that fear.
Labour are in disarray and people are hungry for change. But it is a change without risk and for people who want Scotland to stay safe in the United Kingdom, the SNP is high risk. Only the Conservatives can offer change and safe change at that.
This election is not about the future of Gordon Brown or the expanding ego of Alex Salmond – it is about giving the people of Glasgow East a strong and committed representative. In Davena Rankin we have precisely that, a tireless worker who will use her Glasgow background and life experience to get a better deal for Glasgow East.”
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