SNP ACTIVISTS LAUNCH ABERDEENSHIRE EAST CAMPAIGN

SNP activists will be in Inverurie tomorrow (Wednesday) as they take to the streets to launch the campaign to elect Alex Salmond as the Member of the Scottish Parliament for Aberdeenshire East.

The redrawn constituency includes the majority of Mr Salmond’s existing Gordon seat and large parts of the former Banff and Buchan constituency previously represented by Mr Salmond as MP.

Commenting, SNP candidate for Aberdeenshire East, Alex Salmond said:

“In 2007 this community showed Scotland the way by voting for the SNP to become Scotland’s Government.

“Over the last four years, with the support of people in this area, we have made great progress towards building a better future for our country. At this election we stand with the best team, the best record and the only real vision for the future of this country.

“We need to protect the progress which people in this area have helped us to achieve: abolishing prescription charges, freezing the council tax, delivering 1,000 more police officers, driving forward Scotland's renewable energy industry, making healthcare better, faster and cleaner, training 20,000 apprentices in the last year and moving to a record 25,000 next year, and restoring free education.

“A lot has been achieved – in fact, 90% of our headline manifesto commitments have been delivered. With your support again this May, we will keep the 1,000 extra police on our streets and take even more money from the criminals to give back to communities. We will freeze the Council Tax for another two years, protecting family budgets in the face of rising VAT and higher prices. We will protect NHS budgets, ensuring treatment continues to improve and we will demand fair fuel prices.

“Locally, under an SNP Government we’re seen huge steps forward in the area. The recent announcement of the dualling of the A90 between Balmedie and Tipperty, will create a continuous dual carriageway between Ellon and Aberdeen. We’ve also made huge progress in solving the notorious bottleneck at Inveramsay Bridge, with the design contract now awarded. The figures say it all – since the SNP came to power there are 256 more nurses in Grampian, 236 more affordable homes in Aberdeenshire, 824 modern apprenticeships provided in Aberdeenshire and 5 new schools completed in Aberdeenshire East.

“With the continued support of people in Aberdeenshire we can build on the work of the past four years. Together, we can make Scotland better. In May, vote for a Scottish Government working for Scotland. Vote for an SNP Government.”