Annabel Goldie - Delivering for Scotland

Speaking today at Scottish Conservative Conference in Perth, Annabel Goldie MSP, Scottish Conservative Leader, said (check against delivery):

This is a time of excitement and opportunity. In 47 days, Scotland goes to the polls. And this Holyrood election breaks new ground for a devolved campaign. The Conservatives are in Government. David Cameron is Prime Minister.

Let me repeat that – I like it: David Cameron is Prime Minister!

The measure of the man who is our Prime Minister was writ large when he spoke to us yesterday: statesmanship, integrity and moral courage were abundant in that speech. I felt privileged to have him as our Prime Minister and immensely reassured that he is our Prime Minister. And I join him in a tribute to the brave men and women in our armed forces, who are at the forefront of our thoughts in these challenging times and we thank you for what you do.

And, on the domestic front, because we are leading the UK coalition, because the Conservatives are once again in Government, we are replacing myth with a new reality. We are doing our best in these difficult times. We are dealing with the toxic mix of Labour debt and Labour deficit and taking all of Britain forward. We are acting in the national interest, building a better future by dealing with the inescapable realities of today.

Because let's face it:

Far better a Conservative led Government sorting out Labour's mess than a Labour government making it worse!

Far better our Conservative led Government acting in the national interest, than a Labour government acting in self interest.

We have David Cameron and George Osborne dealing with the deficit, rather than Messrs Miliband and Balls in denial about the deficit.

In short – We have David Cameron. A Prime minister for all of Britain.

So I stand foursquare behind David and our UK Government and I was inspired – yet again – to hear his speech to us yesterday. David – I owe you a debt, we all owe you a debt and Scotland and Britain are lucky to have you.

On the 5th of May Scotland faces a very important election and our success must be built on common purpose and teamwork. So let me pay tribute to our central office leadership, Andrew Fulton and George Kynoch, our tremendous team of professionals, Mark, Ramsay, Victoria, Vicky and their colleagues. They are working day and night, churning out material, giving us advice and supporting us all the way – we can't do this without you. So let's thank them all.

But this election breaks new ground because at Holyrood, for the first time, we have an incredible story to tell about what we have delivered. We are pivotal in Scottish politics. We have a fantastic team at Holyrood – they are sitting here in the front row. I thank each of them for what they have done for Scotland. Together, we 16 have delivered for Scotland. Just think what we could do with more Scottish Conservative MSPs! And just look at the talent we have in our candidates all across Scotland, many of them in evidence at this conference. They are enthusiastic, passionate and a tremendous advertisement for our party. So, let's give them a round of applause.

Our success in our mission hinges on us telling a simple story on every doorstep, in every leaflet, at every hustings and in every conversation.

We are the Scottish Conservatives. We are the voice of Common Sense. We have delivered for Scotland and we will deliver again.

So hold your heads high – be proud. Here, in Scotland, conservative policies and principles in action. Delivering for Scotland.

1,000 extra police – Common Sense on our streets because we made it happen.

A 4 year council Tax freeze – Common Sense for families because we made it happen.

Lower taxes for our smallest businesses – thousands of businesses saved – Common sense on the economy because we made it happen

A £26m boost to business and the construction industry and a new housing initiative. 10,000 new jobs in the pipeline. Common sense for jobs and families because we made it happen.

And help for those receiving care, a new national drugs strategy, a transparency revolution in government spending and much more – all because we, the Scottish Conservatives made it happen.

That all adds up to a two billion pound package of measures, for Scotland.

We have made Scotland safer, fairer, more competitive and more secure. In short a better Scotland.

Yes – We, the Scottish Conservatives, have delivered for Scotland.

Common Sense for the common good.

So be proud of what we have achieved.

But we can do so much more.

These are tough times, but our challenge is to balance the tough financial reality with common sense and hold to our belief that things will get better. Realistic about today, but optimistic about tomorrow.

We must have the resolve to do what is right for Scotland and we must stand by those who need our help.

In the coming weeks, we will set out our vision for Scotland and how we take our country forward. For me it will always be the national interest – never the nationalist interest.

We will publish a manifesto that is all about jobs and opportunities; supporting families; safer communities and a healthy environment. We will tackle the big issues of today and answer the hopes and fears of voters about tomorrow.

We will put our country first.

And on that note, I could not let today pass without paying tribute to one of the great assets of our party and our country: Phil Gallie.

Phil was one of that rare breed of politicians who stood up, told it as he saw it and always, always put the people first. Not for him any self important grandstanding or some political popularity contest. For Phil, doing what was right and being loyal to his party was all that mattered and that is his lasting legacy. I am proud that he was my friend and colleague. He is greatly missed.

And it is these attributes of selflessness and duty which should be our watchwords. The public is sick to the back teeth of politicians who will say anything – promise anything - just to get elected.

Well that's not my way. I'll tell you why I am proud to do what I do. Because Scottish Democracy demands that the sterile, indeed at times puerile left wing and statist politics of the other parties is challenged.

To see these other parties engaged in some unbelievable Dutch auction of popularity - trying to outperform each other in keeping the truth from voters, hiding from the challenges, pretending all is well, ducking the issues - is patronising to voters, practising a crude deception on voters and that hypocrisy, distortion and concealment needs to be laid bare before voters.

And that's why I do this job - to tell voters as it is, to respect the ability of voters to understand that and to trust voters to respond sensibly. They know the chasm which separates me from the other parties. It is this.

The other parties are interested in doing what's populist - I'm interested in doing what's right. Scottish democracy needs the Scottish Conservatives and Scotland needs our Conservative policies.

So when polling day comes, let the public judge who has been telling it straight.

Is it Iain Gray, the man whose party voted against a council tax freeze but now pretends he wants one? The man whose party said a graduate contribution was inevitable – but now pretends it isn't? The man whose colleagues privately say we shouldn't scrap prescription charges for those who can afford them – but who then votes with the SNP to scrap them, all to con the voters and court popularity.

It is incredible, literally incredible because it is beyond belief.

This is the master of the cartwheel, the political gymnast extraordinaire. The man who will do anything, say anything, promise anything just to get the keys to Bute House. Labour stands accused of naked, brazen opportunism - 2-faced, double dealing, dishonest politicking. It is shabby, it is shoddy and it is shameful.

But what about Alex Salmond? (Alex the Brave) Soundbite Salmond – Everything for free. Has he been telling it straight?

Remember what the brave Alex promised? Dump the debt; Axe the tax; slogan after slogan turned out to be just pre election rhetoric, then confined to the dustbin of government.

Not such a smart Alec after all!

But, credit where credit is due.

The SNP did fund 1,000 extra police. But only because we, the Scottish Conservatives made them.

They did cut business rates for thousands of our smallest firms. But they did it faster and sooner only because we, the Scottish Conservatives made them.

And yes, they did introduce a £60m town centre regeneration fund – but only because we, the Scottish Conservatives made them.

And a new national drugs strategy focussing on recovery – but only because we, the Scottish Conservatives, made them do it.

And a council tax freeze over 4 years for families the length and breadth of Scotland – but only because we, the Scottish Conservatives voted that through.

So when Alex Salmond gets on his high horse, airbrushes his failures from his rhetoric and pats himself on the back for his successes, an exercise in which he engages with consumate skill, – remember who really delivered for Scotland. It was us, the Scottish Conservatives. We did what we said we would do. Issue by issue, vote by vote, doing what was right for Scotland. We stood, we delivered and we made it happen.

Already at this conference we have announced an exciting raft of policies to take our country forward. To support families, to improve education and skills, to make our communities safer, to help business create jobs and to grow our economy.

Let me remind you of just a few:

On health, my stalwart deputy, Murdo Fraser told us about health checks for the over 40s: more health visitors for young families, a new cancer drugs fund, protecting our Scottish NHS budget and cutting management to concentrate on the front line.

On education, the unflappable and capable Liz Smith set out our stall by getting back to the three R's; dealing with troublesome, offensive pupils; giving schools back to teachers and learners; and yes, giving parents choice. And, vitally, coming to the help of our first class Scottish universities and colleges – threatened by Labour, the SNP and the Lib Dems. Well, my message is clear – we'll not abandon you. We value you too much. We will stand by you.

On justice, the determined and incisive John Lamont confirmed that we will not give up these thousand extra police we fought for, we won and we delivered. And we will battle to bring back honesty to sentencing and to end automatic early release.

And on the economy and tax, our wee genius, the envy of every other party, the dependable and astute Derek Brownlee, laid out our vision of a low tax, dynamic economy. Enterprise-led, taking red tape out the hair of business, creating jobs and securing Scotland's recovery.

And on the issue of tax, as I have already said, the Scottish Conservatives delivered a council tax freeze for the last 3 years. Real help in tough times. And we pushed for and got a freeze for the coming year - 2011/12 - as well.

And let me just remind you, in the parliament, first Labour voted against the council tax freeze, then voted against the budget delivering the council Tax freeze. And now Iain Gray wants you to believe that he backs a council tax freeze! You couldn't make it up. It is unbelievable. No, He's unbelievable. Not so much blood and thunder – more thud and blunder.

But by contrast, the Scottish Conservatives have been clear and consistent. We've already said that we want a council tax freeze for at least another year – 2012/13. And when the freeze on Council Tax comes to an end, because it can't go on forever, we shall protect Council Tax payers. We pledge that any Council, if it proposes to increase tax above the rate of inflation, cannot do that unless it gets agreement from its tax payers in a local referendum – Local people with a local veto.

But I want to do more. The Scottish Conservatives have delivered real help to millions of people but there is one group of people for whom extra help, in my book, is totally justified. People, who have worked hard, paid their taxes, given to society and for whom low interest rates are not a comfort, but a constraint on their income.

Our elderly.

So I can confirm that we will fight this election with a pledge to stand up for Scotland's pensioners. I will battle to deliver to them not just a freeze in their Council Tax, but a cut.

A £200 cut - for every pensioner household.

And not just for one year, but every year.

This tax cut will be enshrined in a Council Tax Reform Bill. This is a flagship policy of our campaign. When you've given so much in your life to Scotland, the Scottish Conservatives will give you something back.

And to those who say we can't deliver– just remind them of what we have delivered in the last 4 years.

I am not the type of woman to make empty promises. I'm just not that kind of dame! If I say that I will fight to deliver, then I will fight to deliver.

And in the next parliament, this is my warning to the other parties: do not put at risk the tax help the Scottish Conservatives have delivered. The existing council tax freeze and the small business bonus scheme – so vital to so many of our Scottish businesses. And do not give Scottish business a higher business rate than the rest of the U.K.

We Conservatives aspire to a low tax Scotland. And that desire to lower tax – to ease the burden on our taxpayers - is why David Cameron and I welcome the proposals in the Scotland Bill as an opportunity to deliver even more for Scotland. We are in the mainstream of Scottish politics – it is the nationalists who are on the fringes where they belong.

Now, I am often asked about what will happen after Election Day. Will there be a coalition? Another minority administration? Something in-between?

Let me tell you what I say to everyone who asks:

I rule nothing in and I rule nothing out. It would be arrogant for any leader to attempt to carve up the result before the voters have had their say.

It is the people of Scotland who will decide which Party gets what votes and how much influence each will hold for the next 5 years. And that is as it should be. Labour or the SNP may well be the largest Party – but they will not have a majority so they cannot wield all the power. That balance of power lies with the voters. It is for them to decide. That is the power of democracy.

But let me give you my guiding principle when it comes to making decisions about what to do and who to back. My sole test is this: what is in the best interests of Scotland?

We have shown over the last 4 years, when we agree with a policy, we back it. When we oppose it, we vote it down. So when we wanted 1000 more police and a council tax freeze, we got it. But when we rejected a local income tax or an independence bill, we stopped it in its tracks. And let me issue this warning to Alex Salmond; if the SNP comes back as the largest party again, don't think that gives you a mandate to act like some self proclaimed President of Scotland and get your way on every issue. If you want respect and support you are going to have to earn them. Because I will always act in the national interest; never, ever in the nationalist interest.

And I warn Iain Gray: do you really think any Party can trust the boomerang boy, the yo-yo kid who vehemently opposed the council tax freeze and now supports it; for whom a graduate contribution is inevitable one day and totally avoidable the next. Iain Gray, the man who this week says he wants to save the A and E departments at Monklands and Ayr hospitals. Save them? His party was the only one who wanted to close them! Delusion? Deception? Denial? Never buy a second hand car from Scottish Labour.

So the Scottish Conservatives will continue to do what is right. To hold to our principles and to do all we can to put Conservative policies into action.

And, unlike the others, we will not duck the tough decisions. We will tell it like it is.

So yes, that means we don't back extending free prescriptions to those who can afford to pay. Because that is money which we want to spend on more health visitors and a cancer drugs fund.

And yes, it means that graduates are going to have to pay a fair and affordable contribution from future earnings because we want Scotland's Universities and colleges to remain world class. You don't come to that conclusion to be popular – you come to that conclusion because it's right. So be warned Messrs. Salmond, Gray and Scott. The public will not be fooled by your pre-election gambits and deceptions.

It means we will weigh up the options, decide the priorities and stick to our guns. But we will not duck and dive like the snake oil salesmen of the other parties.

Now the media will try and portray this as a two horse race. The former racing tipster Salmond against the Gray. But there is an old nag in the field who's been round the course and who's got form when it comes to taking on the boys. Someone who decides what they can and cannot do. Somebody who holds the balance of power in this parliament and who will act without fear or favour. That old nag is me!

You see the voters don't have to choose between Salmond and Gray – because that's not a choice, it's a dilemma.

Holyrood is a parliament of minorities. No one party will have a majority. People should vote for what they want. They should cast their votes for what they believe in, not vote for a party they don't like just to stop another party they like even less. Voting should be a positive action, not a negative reaction.

Because in 47 days Scotland goes to the polls.

47 days explaining that in Holyrood, we can call the shots

47 days for us to sell our message of Common Sense and Delivery.

47 days to tell voters why we are pivotal in Scottish politics.

47 days to tell it like it is. To be realistic about Scotland today but optimistic about Scotland's future.

47 days to explain how we shall continue to deliver for Scotland.

So when you leave here today, take this message to the voters of Scotland:

This election is not about the fortunes of Salmond or Gray. It's about the future of Scotland. So if you like what we've delivered, let us do more.

Tell them that Annabel Goldie is counting on them, and that they can count on me. Every voter, in every region, in every part of Scotland can vote for common sense. And that is what we shall give them.

Because the Scottish Conservatives are the voice of Common Sense in Scotland.

So let's get to it! Let's get onto these doorsteps and together we shall deliver for Scotland!

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