Newsflash

The opposition parties at Holyrood have collapsed. The Scottish Progressives will fill the gap by offering a clear and inspirational vision for the future.
 
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The Scottish Progressives are back

One year on since the Scottish National Party formed its first government, it is time to reflect on progress to date.  There can be no doubt that their success has brought a marked improvement to the quality of the debate and Mr. Salmond continues to out-perform his opponents with consummate ease.  Our parliament conducts its business in a more professional manner, our civil service has improved and, in certain quarters at least, there is an air of optimism.  However it also has to be said that they did not have a hard act to follow.  Our government still lacks substance and, other than their referendum for independence, they have yet to spell out their long-term plans in any great detail.  How will they tackle the big issues of education, healthcare, public sector spending and welfare reform and will we in any event be controlled from Edinburgh or Brussels?

The most notable event at Holyrood has been the collapse of the other parties. Not only are they failing to hold the SNP to account or to pressure them on their manifesto promises, they are also running scared.  Alex Salmond has only to hint that he might return to the country for a proper mandate, which he would almost certainly get, and they beat a hasty retreat.

Though we do not support the break-up of the United Kingdom, the Scottish Progressives do believe that the best way forward is greater independence: not the regressive move of complete divorce, but the much more progressive step towards self-determination. We believe that Scotland’s success – our success – will not be decided by the location or the mantra of its leaders, but by whether or not these leaders are bold enough to allow people to get on and make a success of their own lives by freeing them from excessive regulation, high taxes and constant meddling.

The Scottish Progressives will promote realistic and affordable solutions to Scotland’s ills. We support low taxes, less state control, community-based policing and a host of other measures geared at delivering a more successful, free and progressive society.  A full set of proposals will be published shortly and a summary is available here.

The Progressives dominated Scottish local politics for almost 50 years. It is time for the Progressives to return.

 
Scottish Progressives Support...

Low Taxes. Cutting wasteful public expenditure and increasing efficiency will fund substantial tax cuts whilst improving public services. Our target is a low, flat-rate tax system covering individuals and businesses alike.

School Choice.  School vouchers to enhance choice, empower parents and drive up standards. We believe in diversity and flexibility in the school system to encourage excellence and to nurture the talents of all.  Choice and excellence should not be the preserve of the wealthy.

Health Reform. Transform the health service by giving everyone private medical insurance to access quality healthcare wherever and whenever it may be needed.

Stimulate Enterprise. Get rid of unnecessary regulations, cut business rates and reward investment to enable Scotland to achieve its full potential.

Cutting Back the State. Scotland loses billions of pounds every year to ill-conceived projects, duplication and inefficiency. We would set public spending levels in line with other leading economies.

Tackling Crime. Many areas are plagued by vandalism, drugs, and anti-social behaviour. We will boost the aspirations of the young by improving their education and reintroduce proper community policing.

We believe in small government, individual liberty and free enterprise. Only the Scottish Progressives offer a serious agenda for reform.

 

BBC Scotland News

 

Scottish Progressives
7-9 North St David Street, Edinburgh, EH2 1AW. Tel: 0131 524 9458 Fax: 0131 524 9459
    Web: www.scottishprogressives.org