Happy Christmas

Christmas time, council is off now until early January.

My Best Wishes to everyone for the festive season, I look forward to hearing from you.

Cammy

Cammy Day

Labour Councillor

Forth Ward

UNFAIR SCOTLAND FUND

This Thursday - many local people and local projects will attned the Full Council in the City Chambers, to push for the administration to re-look at the savage funding cuts to the Forth Ward.

The report - see here, has been referred to council, as Jenny Daze, oops Dawe, and her Liberal/SNP colleagues cant quite decide what to do?!

Even in past Labour Administrations, ward councillors would fight tooth and nail to save local resources, , not any more,, we dont hear a peep from Cllr Morris or Cardownie on what they intend to do.

As your Labour Councillor - I will stand up for this unfair allocation, and flawed process!

Buggy Brigade

Happy Christmas - Buggy Brigade!





Today I was pleased to attend the Buggy Brigade at West Pilton Neighbourhood Centre - on their Christmas Party!





Was great to see so many young mums and kids having a great time - and well done to the mums who catered very well for kids and adults,, whilst I didnt have toime to wait for Santa, I did have time to nab a a jam piece! (sorry)

I look forward to viting the group again in 2009, and having more time to discuss the local issues raised.

SAVE THE MILLENIUM CENTRE

I was pleased to see, despite the weather, Muirhouse Millenium Centre having an indoor car boot sale of goods.

Unfortunatley, despite 4 attemps to win a prize (and the only £4 with me) I failed to win a prize! despite attempts to bend the rules!!

It was a good opportunity for me to speak to more of the local residents, introducing myelf as the new couniillor in FOrth Ward, and hearing how well used the centre is - despite the 60% cuts announced by the Council Administration.

I was heartened to see that they wont go without a fight - and look forward to supporting their fight to save the Muihouse Millenium Centre

Surgery's and Contact!

As promised - here are my surgery detials - covering the full forth ward, long with my contact details. Please feel free to contact me regadring any local issue.

I will work alongside your MSP Malcolm Chisholm and your Member of Parliament Mark Lazarowicz to progress issues for this community.

My Surgeries are as follows;

First and third Wednesday of the month at 6pm in Muirhouse Millennium Centre and at 7pm in
Royston Wardieburn Community Centre.

Second and fourth Wednesday of the month at 6pm in
the Prentice Centre and at 7pm in Trinity Primary School.

You can also call me on 529 3281, or email me at;
cammy.day@edinburgh.gov.uk or write to me at;

City Chambers
High Street Edinburgh
EH1 1YJ

Malmo Residents!

I was pleased to be invited to the Malmo residents association on Thursday evening (last night) , and welcomed by Ross Bell and the many residents who attended.

I hope that I can support the Residents Association with the many issues they raise..and look forward to working along side them!

More on the residents information can be found on their website - see link below.

http://malmogranton.wordpress.com/

Full Cooncil!

Yesterday saw my first ever full council meeting and maiden speech(s)!!

I was proud to be welcomed by my Labour Group colleagues, and to the Lord Provost and Leader for welcoming me, and grateful to the many positive comments from some of the citys political groups, and individual members


I was able to ask impportant question on the future investment of the new Royston Wardieburn Community Centre, and any likelyhood of investment in Granton Primary School.. the answers from the Liberal Convener - wishy washy to say the least, no start date, no contacts and no clue!

I also questioned the LIB DEMs on the Fairer Scotland (UNFAIR SCOTLAND FUND) and aksed to meet with the leader to look for ANY way of saving projects in the Forth Ward from closure - after repeatedly asking the question - she refused - I can only presume the Liberal Democrats are happy to see projets closed, and jobs lost - not what i call fairer scotland!!

I also put a motion up calling for projects to be goiven fair opportunity in mainstreaming and this was refused by the Liberal Democrat Lord Provost


Very dissapointing to see a casting vote used to close 3 schools - I hope the administration are proud

A long day for all - something im sure we need to get used too..

Been a busy week arranging local surgeries, constituent casework, and tidying up loose ends from our fantastic campaign in Forth Ward!

I'll very soon be on touch with local organisations to see what support i can give to groups and individuals.

Meantime - you can get in touch with me at city chmabers on 0131 529 3281

Locally i will continue to be available with surgeries on;

Monday 4pm at Prentice Centre, and

Wednesday 5pm at Royston Wardieburn Community Centre

I am updating surgery times to ensure the whole ward is covered - these will be distributed as soon as the venues confirm.

I look forward to working with the Forth Ward. Please get in touch with me.

First day in the City Chambers

First day in the City Chambers today...

And my first surgery - and pleased to see a constituent along already!

I'm looking forward to working alongside my Labour Councillor colleagues, and to working all over the Forth Ward - my surgery and contact details will be posted here soon, once its all confirmed - watch this space!

Cammy Day

Councillor

Forth Ward

THANK YOU

Thank you so much to every single person who took the trouble to vote yesterday.

I'm obviously delighted that a Labour Councillor has now been returned to represent the Forth Ward once more.

And I give an absolute assurance that I will do my utmost to represent the needs of this area to the very best of my ability. I will do everything I can to repay the trust that local voters have placed in me, and in Edinburgh Labour.

Can I also say thank you to all the other candidates who stood in this election, for a hard-fought but even-tempered local campaign.

A short rest now, and then the really hard-work starts!

Polling Day!

Polling Day at long last.

... and just a final reminder that all the Polling Stations are open from 7am-10pm today!

PLEASE do cast your vote, and ensure you have your say in the future of local services in the Forth Ward area.

1-day to go!

Last full day of the Forth Ward by-election campaign.

Please do have a last look at my 'Local Priorities'; you may even want to cast your eye over that video-clip?

If you do want a cleaner, safer and greener environment for the local area, then please consider giving me your 1st preference tomorrow. If you have another preferred first choice candidate, don’t forget you can vote for 'Cammy DAY too' – by placing a number 2 next to my name.

And many thanks for taking the time to read my campaign blog.

Pilton Community Mediation Service

Regular blog readers - I know you're out there! - will remember I visited the Pilton Community Mediation Service back in October.

Well, I hear today that they've received word of new 'part-funding' for the project from SACRO - great news, and congratulations to all the staff concerned.

2-days to go!

I know a lot of political attention is elsewhere today - and understandably so! - but here in the Forth Ward, dozens of local political activists are busy pounding the streets vying for every last 'preference vote'!

And if you're visiting this blog for the first time, can I please encourage you to:

• cast your eye over the 'posts' I've made throughout the campaign
• follow up some of the links therein, which give you further information on the issues
• maybe even look at the video I 'posted' up yesterday!

And if you have any outstanding questions, then please don't hesitate to get in touch using any of the methods outlined in the right-hand side-bar.

And, most importantly of all, PLEASE DO take the time to vote in a couple of days time.

The political choice that Forth Ward makes on Thursday WILL have an impact on the future of services in this area.

Vote #1 for Cammy Day

A long Sunday

Today has felt like a very, very long day!

A huge number of leaflets, letters and other materials being hand-delivered across the Forth Ward. I simply cannot thank all the Party volunteers enough.

And, I've spent a lot of the day talking to voters on the door-step again. The messages I'm receiving remain constant. And the over-riding theme is just 'get the basics right'!

Of course, being the last weekend before polling on Thursday, we also had everyone's favourite job to do today - put up the dreaded lamp-post posters!

Get the basics right!

A lot of time spent on the doors again today.

And the main message I'm receiving from voters - over and over and over again - is:

"that 'the basics' have been badly neglected in Forth over the last 18-months!"

What people are saying is pretty straightforward:

• the streets are in a real mess, with litter and weeds the worst that most people can remember them locally
• local roadworks are not being co-ordinated and are being poorly managed
• there needs to be more of a police presence on 'the beat' and more imaginary ways of keeping peace on our streets
• housing and education needs to be given a higher 'local' priority (with Granton Primary and Royston/Wardieburn Community Centre being mentioned specifically)

I've pledged to prioritise all of these areas - none of them are rocket-science and the current SNP/Lib-Dem Council is failing to address them effectively.

Please don't reward failure when you vote on Thursday.

Brief reminder

Just a brief reminder of the overall result for the four main political Parties in the Forth Ward election in May 2007.

Please don't believe other misleading figures, and PLEASE do vote next week to ensure that Forth has a Labour Councillor to re-join the three that the Ward already has:

one SNP

one Tory

one Liberal

Only one more is elected next week!

Official by-election details

City Council website has finally put up all the relevant details for the forthcoming by-election.

You can access it all via here - and if you're still not certain of the location of your Polling Station, then the map here may be of assistance.

Of course, please don't hesitate to get in touch with me (all the details are within the right-hand side-bar) if you think I can assist directly.

Shocking waste of money

I can't tell you just how many people have mentioned the lead story in the local Newspaper to me today.

It's definitely been the main topic of conversation in the Forth Ward!

£6,000 could be a lot better spent on some street-cleaning, or pavement works, in the communities of Forth.

What with plans to re-introduce robes, and now plans for pointless trips to India, one really has to wonder at the judgment of those currently running the City Chambers?

Lib-Dem no-show for the second time

Well, hustings earlier this evening (at the Royston/Wardieburn Community Education Centre) was well attended by the public, which was very good to see.

Unfortunately, it wasn't so well attend by candidates (or substitutes?) from the main Political Parties. The Lib-Dems failed ONCE AGAIN to send either their candidate or a substitute.

Pretty poor if you ask me.

People in Muirhouse, Royston and Wardieburn are frankly wondering just who the Lib-Dem candidate actually is??

My Local Priorities

Very busy weekend coming up - the last one before Polling Day, which is now only 7-days away!

A further Labour leaflet is being distributed around the Ward over the coming few days, and it contains my own 'Local Priorities':

• Environment: Forth is a mess - weeds on the pavements, graffiti, dog dirt, neglected parks. I will not accept this standard for Forth and will work hard to make a difference in all areas.
• Road Works: I will demand co-ordination and speedier work, so that traffic can flow.
• Housing: I will fight to make sure Pennywell, Royston and Wardieburn are top of the list for regeneration.
• Crime: I will fight to get more police on the beat to help tackle local crime.
• Education: This is a Labour priority. Nursery provision for all, small class sizes in primary schools and making sure every young person succeeds at school to go into work, training or further education.
• Sport: Labour is committed to protecting sports centres - vital for the health of young and old.

More financial woe

Yet more financial woe announced by the Council today!

The shortfall of £20million in Capital receipts is bad enough, but even more worrying is the potential extra £10million Revenue pressure due to energy costs.

Whilst I'm willing to accept some of this may well be beyond the direct control of the Local Authority, it must not be used as an excuse for the failure to get the financial basics right - such as keeping the streets of Forth Ward in a decent condition of cleanliness!

More hustings

Another local hustings coming up tomorrow night - this time at the Royston/Wardieburn Community Centre.

Will be interesting to see if all the major Parties are actually represented tomorrow? I won't be holding my breath.

Local hustings

Attended a local 'hustings' at the Muirhouse Millennium Centre (in Muirhouse Medway) last night.

Enjoyed the evening, but pretty disappointing (to say the least) that several candidates failed to show up - including one of the main Parties, the Liberal -Democrats, who sent neither their candidate nor any substitute?

10 days to go

A mere 10 days to go to Polling Day!

The pace of campaigning locally is now really gearing up and I don't anticipate much respite between now and the 6th November.

Still a huge number of very local issues being raised with me on the doorsteps, and a continual mention of several key-points:

• the reduction of hundreds of thousands of pounds of funding for local projects in the Forth Ward
• the failure to take forward the renewal of Granton Primary
• the failure to take forward the renewal of Royston/Wardieburn Community Centre
• the threat of closure to the Pilton CAB office

And more generally, the lack of funding for devolved school services and the dreadful condition of many local streets, are also persistently raised.

The SNP/Lib-Dem Council has failed to successfully pursue any of these local issues in the last 18-months - I remain confident that the people of Forth will send them a very clear message on Thursday 6th November.

Postal votes arriving soon

The weather was a lot better today - thankfully!

Plenty of the campaign-team out and about, with a big effort going into ensuring that as much information is in the right-place, for the arrival of postal votes - which are being dispatched tomorrow.

Detailed planning for the actual, election-day of 6th November also now taking shape.

Only 11-days to go!

Rain on Forth!

Some VERY wet conditions in the Ward today - didn't stop the large band of campaign-stalwarts from getting out and about across Forth.

That said, we are hoping for slightly better campaigning-conditions tomorrow!

Pilton Reach out Project

I had a great time visiting the PROP Centre in West Pilton, with Malcolm Chisholm MSP, and was made so welcome by Penny (manager) and PROP's Board of directors.

PROP is a user-led community health project, in the heart of West Pilton, and is always welcoming to any one who feels they may need to utilise PROP's services.

No pressure, at your pace, in your time, the relaxed, homely feel, made me want to stay longer!

An increasingly utilised service that works in partnership with community mediation and other local services, to benefit local people.

SUNSHINE in Muirhouse!

I was pleased to visit the Sunshine Club in Muirhouse on Wednesday with Former Lord Provost, Cllr Lesley Hinds.

The SUNSHINE club, is a social activity club for older people, and is warm and welcoming, hosted in the Muirhouse Millennium Centre, one of the Forth Wards finest community centres.

On speaking to some of the ladies, I found that while they love the Millennium Centre, and of course the sunshine club, they are furious about the state of their community!

One lady of 74 years old said: "I've lived here for over 55 years, and its never been so disgraceful, broken glass on the pavements and the park, litter all over the place, street lights out, I wont leave the house after dark".

This shows us the respect the SNPLib-Dem administration have for communities like Muirhouse.. The Councils own monitoring system shows that Forth Ward FAILED its cleanliness test - basically the streets are a disgrace - and none of the SNP/LIB-DEM councillors will stand up for Muirhouse!

I will ensure the street cleaning and maintenance are a priority, and that people can feel safe to walk in their streets!

Safe in your community!

Cammy Day welcomed Home Secretary Jacqui Smith to the Pilton Community Mediation Service recently.

Cammy was welcomed by Tracey Stewart-Kellagher, a local woman who has been employed for some time now to lead on innovative projects around community mediation, which has seen referrals from the city council, the police, and self-referrals rise dramatically.

Jacqui Smith commented:

"Asbos provide a way to stop groups engaging in antisocial behaviour from making the lives of other people a misery, but there also has to be work by projects like this to intervene early before it starts. "The fact that it's based here in the community means it's also easier to engage young people."

Tracey - who's project has not been able to receive council funding due to the SNP/Lib Dem administrations cuts to the voluntary sector commented:

"These kids were never given a voice before. They've become used to simply being shouted at. The kids from Pilton and Muirhouse actually came to us looking for help to resolve their issues."

LABOUR's Forth by-election candidate Cammy Day who hosted the visit, said:

"The Community Mediation Service is a fantastic resource. Supporting parents and families to resolve problems before getting into serious conflict, which usually results in police or housing taking enforcement issues. The Community Mediation Service is further complimented by the range of services on offer from the Pilton Community Health Project, like Barri Grubb, Women Supporting Women and 'smoking cessation' to name a few - all of which are likely to suffer at the hands of the LIB DEM/SNP cuts to be imposed in the coming weeks. I will fight to save these local services!"

Robes for Councillors?

Well, well, well - just look at this story in today's Evening News.

I wonder why the planned report on 'bringing back robes' has been delayed because of an "administrative oversight" and now won't come back to the Council for decision until its next meeting on Thursday 20th November, which just happens to be 14-days after the Forth Ward by election?

I personally think the voters of Forth Ward will, once again, see this for what it is and pass judgement on those currently in charge of the City Chambers on Thursday 6th November.

A long weekend ahead

A long weekend of leafleting and door-knocking ahead.

Less than three weeks to go to Polling Day now and the pace is really picking up!

Looking forward to speaking to many more people, right across the Ward, over the next few days.

That said, if I don't manage to chap your door!, don't hesitate to get in touch - all my contact details are on the right-hand side bar.

'Burying bad news'

Confirmation in the local press yesterday that some judicious 'burying of bad news' is indeed going on surrounding the (so-called) Fairer Scotland Fund.

The people of Forth will see this for what it is.

Black Community Development Project

Visited the Black Community Development Project (BCDP), with Malcolm Chisholm MSP, to discuss the services they provide for young people and families.

BDCP grew from the late 1980's 'Muirhouse Anti-Racism Campaign' and was formed following the receipt of mainstream funding in the early 1990's.

There was clearly concern about the security of their current funding-stream/s and a great deal of unhappiness about the way that the change to the Fairer Scotland Fund has been (mis)managed. Possibly up to a third of their funding appears to be under threat.

Not good at all.

Close of nominations

Close of nomination period (for Forth Ward by election candidates) this afternoon - at 4pm!

And it appears that the previously stated intention of the BNP to stand a candidate in the by-election has come to nothing?

Good news.

Unfair treatment

Well, the (so-called) Fairer Scotland Fund implementation goes from farce to fiasco in the Forth Ward.

Rumour is sweeping the local area that a meeting which was supposed to be held tomorrow, to allocate the Fund across the Ward, has been summarily postponed until - wait for it - after the by-election is over.

Of course, it has nothing to do with the fact that the meeting would have led to the confirmation of hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of cuts to local services?

Street weeds

Out in Royston/Wardieburn most of today.

Biggest single issue on the doorsteps today was the totally uncontrolled growth of weeds in the local streets; along with many people mentioning serious litter problems in the local area.

And, it is true that the general state of the streets is simply not good. There are weeds everywhere. And litter is pretty abundant.

Now, some of the litter issues 'could' be down to the recent industrial action days, but there can no excuse for the prevalence of weeds on the streets of Royston/Wardieburn. It does smack of yet more funding-reductions having a direct impact on an area of the City that the current SNP/Lib-Dem Council appear to pay precious little attention to?

Fairer Scotland Fund?

Out on the doors again today and a generally good reception from most folk we managed to speak to.

It has to said, that I'm pretty surprised at the sheer number of people who keep mentioning the funding reductions for local organisations that have arisen due to the switch to the (so-called) 'Fairer Scotland Fund'. Several folk even specifically mentioned the now-infamous letter (4th down) from the Lib-Dem Council Leader to the local press!

The switch to this Fund has frankly been botched, and its clearly affecting an awful lot of individuals and organisations across the Ward.

Not acceptable.

Inaction on new buildings

I know that none of the schools mentioned in this Council report (just out today) are within the Forth Ward, but do have a quick read through it.

In essence, the report is simply an update on a completely stalled-programme of school building, which reinforces the fact that nothing new has been initiated - as regards new school buildings - in the last eighteen months.

Its a shocking indictment of inaction.

The impact of which, sadly, parents at Granton Primary are all too aware of.

School budget cuts hurting

As if just to emphasise the point in my last post - having looked through the dozens of 'feedback -forms' from our campaign leafletting so far, its clear that local residents have local services as their main concern also.

It has to be said, that 'school services' (or the diminution of them) is a theme that keeps coming through. Hardly surprising (sadly) when you consider the decisions of the 2008/09 SNP/Lib-Dem Council budget:

• every Primary and Secondary school was forced to take a 1.5%-2.0% budget cut
• that amounted to at least a £10,000 reduction per average Primary School
• at least a £10,000 reduction per average Special School
• and at least a £50,000 reduction per average Secondary School

These cuts are clearly having a serious and negative impact on young people and families across the Forth Ward.

Local Services are what matter to me

Dear oh dear - bit of a stooshie in the local paper today. You know you've won the argument when people rely on idle gossip and tittle-tattle, rather than facts.

Frankly, the leader of the Council SNP Group should be defending the local-SNP role in:

• cutting hundreds of thousands of pounds of funding in the Forth Ward
• failing to take forward the renewal of Granton Primary
• failing to take forward the renewal of Royston/Wardieburn Community Centre
• threatening to close the Pilton CAB office

These are some of the real issues that matter to the people of Forth.

Its clear to me that the local SNP/Lib-Dem Council is failing Forth and, personally, I am campaigning to give voice to the old, the young and the vulnerable so they have a chance of retaining the local services they so badly need.

Idle gossip and tittle-tattle won't help a single resident of Forth.

No.1. for the Forth Ward

I'm told this afternoon, that I am now formally nominated as the Scottish Labour Party candidate for the Forth Ward by-election on Thursday 6th November.

Apparently no one else has put themselves forward (formally) yet?

No.1. for the Forth Ward indeed!

Royston/Wardieburn Centre?

The new Royston/Wardieburn community-wing, to be built at Royston Primary, has also been raised with me today as a project that appears to have stalled?

Again, checked with the Council, and the fears do have some basis as I'm told the project is under ongoing review and no firm date for signing contracts and starting work has yet been agreed!

This contract needs to be signed and work started, as it appears to me little progress has been made in the last eighteen months.

Granton Primary School

On the doors again today, in Granton, and many local parents angry about the lack of progress with the redevelopment of Granton Primary School.

Checked with the Council, and it appears this was indeed a project which was contained within the 'Capital Programme' up until last year, but has now been removed in favour of 'refurbishment' and not a rebuild!

And worse still, no one is able to give a straight answer as to when that 'refurbishment' will actually commence.

As an elected Member on the Council, I would pursue commencement of this project with great vigour.

CAB Pilton under threat?

Another issue I've picked up on the doorsteps over the last few days is the threatened closure of the Pilton CAB Branch.

Frankly, there appears to be a lot of confusion on this - the local CAB Board claim the threatened closure has been 'suspended', but the Lib-Dem politician in charge has written to the local press saying they were pleased to assist in the centralisation plans! (see the 4th letter down again - here).

Whether its the so-called Fairer Scotland Fund or the Citizens Advice Bureau, it does seem the local Lib-Dems don't care much for the real issue affecting the Forth Ward.

Weekend of Campaigning

Have spent most of the past weekend speaking to people on the doorsteps of Forth Ward.

It's clear that local issues are uppermost in many people's minds - not least the funding reductions from the previous CRF/SIP arrangements to the new 'so-called' Fairer Scotland Fund.

There may be some doubt about the 'exact' amount that these monies are being reduced by - but no-one is anymore denying that such reductions are taking place.

Even the politician in overall charge at the City Chambers (a Lib-Dem) has accepted that reductions, to the value of several hundred thousands of pounds, are indeed happening - see the 4th letter down here!

LABOUR'S CAMPAIGN IN FORTH WARD LAUNCHED, WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 1ST

Labour's leader in Scotland, Iain Gray joined us on Wednesday evening to open our campaign rooms.

SNP's Tax Plans Will Damage Scotland

On Wednesday, Labour slammed the SNP for pressing ahead with proposals for a local income tax in its legislative programme, despite near universal opposition.

Local income tax will damage Scotland and must be dumped. Labour's acting leader Cathy Jamieson said:

"Alex Salmond says he 'didn't mind' Thatcherite economics. Now he is bringing forward his very own tartan poll tax. His plans for a local income tax are so discredited that even the SNP are ashamed to mention its name. Instead, it is transformed into the Abolition of Council Tax Bill.

"The SNP's tax plans will simultaneously make Scotland the highest taxed part of the UK and damage local services. That is why they are opposed by virtually almost everyone in Scotland, from the STUC to the CBI."

It would have been far better if this legislative programme was used to increase investment in health, provide jobs for newly qualified teachers and end automatic early release for prisoners. The First Minister should stop pretending that he knows better and dump the local income tax now.

Labour Celebrates 60 Years of NHS - while SNP dont!!

Labour Exposes £40m Hole in Hospital Budget Glasgow health bosses are facing a £40 million black hole in the budget for the new Southern General Hospital.

The budget for the new super-hospital is £842 million. Greater Glasgow and Clyde Health Board is contributing £270 million, and half of that is expected to be raised from selling land, although forecasts about how much money NHS Greater Glasgow could raise from land sales were "hopelessly optimistic".

Some property firms have already written down the value of their land assets by 30%. If Glasgow's health bosses did the same, the shortfall would be £40 million. Shadow Health Secretary Margaret Curran said:

"I am horrified to learn that there could be a £40 million black hole in the budget for the new Southern General Hospital. There is no way that NHS Greater Glasgow can find this kind of money from its own resources without badly damaging patient's services.

"Health bosses have already been forced to find millions of pounds of cuts by SNP ministers. The people of Glasgow need reassurance from Nicola Sturgeon that patient care will not suffer. "

Margaret Curran is calling on Nicola Sturgeon to guarantee that the Scottish government will provide enough extra money to protect services and fund the new Southern General.

SNP Legislative Programme

Yesterday, the SNP announced their legislative programme. Superficially there is a lot in the programme that could bring consensus across parties, which is not surprising when so much is actually a continuation of Labour policy.

However, as is too often the case with the SNP, it doesn't taste as good as it looks, and many of the policies today take a short term view to score a fast political point. There is a lot of facade and front, but ill thought through policy, around a number of issues such as alcohol.

The SNP are quick to take credit for all that is good in Scotland, but the minute the going gets tough, it's someone else's problem. The SNP have failed to properly explain what they are planning to do to support Scottish people during these current difficult times.

Furthermore, it's what's not in the statement that's most important, not what is.

- Where are they on Scottish Futures Trust?
- What is to happen to the school building programme?
- How are they going to pay for the new Forth crossing?

Everyone thinks the Local Income Tax is a failure.

When willl Alex Salmond stop gambling with people's local services, and have the humility to admit he has made a mistake and work together to develop an alternative property based tax for the people of Scotland.

Labour wants to protect, help and support the most vulnerable in society like children and disabled people. We want justice and fairness in the housing market and to improve skills and job opportunities for young people and help relieve the financial burden on our pensioners. Labour will act constructively in Scotland, to help bring forward bills which show that it is Labour who represents core Scottish values, and are therefore the party best able to stand up for the Scottish people.