The guide to Policies
Scottish CONSERVATIVE and Unionist Party:
The Conservatives focus on eight policy issues, as detailed in their flyer. They are, the retention of Section 28; More local jobs; an upgraded A77; more police on the streets; better education; a better NHS; support for local business and to save the pound. They claim to be the only party who want to retain Section 28., but see other local issues as more important. They believe an upgrade of the A77 would help bring more jobs to the area.
Scottish LABOUR Party:
Labour claim that their candidate is 'Able, Local and Labour'. They believe that she will 'get things done'. They really on their record in government and state they will continue to tackle youth unemployment; fight the war against drugs; provide nursery places; create a strong and stable economy and deliver social justice. They claim they have made people better off by the working families tax credit; increasing child benefit; introducing the minimum wage and helping pensioners by minimum income, winter allowance and free eye tests. They claim that lowering unemployment is why people voted for them in May. They believe Labour is committed to a New Scotland, unlike the Tories or the SNP
Scottish National Party (SNP):
The main policies of the SNP are to oppose air traffic control privatisation; adequately resource the police and integrate them with the community; to bring more local jobs by supporting skills and campaigning for lower interest rates for business; improve health care and support nursing staff; develop Troon harbour; tackle student hardship and oppose fees; give guidelines over Section 28 and campaign for an independent Scotland.
Scottish LIBERAL DEMOCRATS:
THE Liberal Democrats this week selected their candidate for next month's Ayr by-pelection.
Paisley University student Stuart Ritchie, based at Ayr Campus, said: "I regret that the people of Ayr, having elected a Labour MSP who promised to do the job for four years, are being put through this by-election. The only positive vote is a Liberal Democrat vote".
Mr Ritchie added: "I look forward to challenging the SNP candidate to explain how his party intend paying for the £2.3billion of extra expenditure which they have committed themselves to since last May." He added: "Conversely, since the last election the Liberal Democrats have negotiated an additional £80million for education; a package of £40million for Scotland's hard-pressed farmers; and the abolition of tuition fees for Scotland's students."
Scottish GREEN Party:
The SGP wishes to promote 'safe streets' by using traffic calming and provide safe routs to school; support organic farming; oppose fluoride in water; work with local businesses to create an 'alternate green economy'; give more power to community councils; promote Ayr as the recycling capital of Scotland and hence create more jobs; eradicate fuel poverty by 2007; tackle homelessness by using empty houses; clean up Ayr beach; set up a "Fresh Ayr" (pun on air) scheme; stop the spread of opencast mining in Ayrshire and tackle the false promises of local jobs and promote animal welfare. They also have a separate food policy which bans GM food, supports organic, creates a Scottish Food Department and make health food at affordable process, encourage locally-grown food (other elements are to give nutritional standards for school meals, compulsory labelling for all foods with a Freedom of Information Bill, raise standards for treatment of livestock, half the price of organic food via a Food Dept). They would also create a Universal Basic Income for all, and have more de-centralisation of politics. The five principles are "Sustainable, Socially Just, Diverse, Democratic and Decentralised".
Scottish SOCIALIST Party, Convenor Tommy Sheridan
The SSP aim to create an independent Socialist Scotland, giving a voice to the working class and the poor. It wishes to use the counties wealth to benefit the 'millions rather that the millionaires. It's specific policies are to abolish warrant sales; restore student grants and benefits during holidays; create a minimum wage of £7 an hour; immediate pension increases of £32 a week; allow all pensioners to be exempt from Council Tax, be eligible for free travel, fuel and TV licenses; and for the MSP to accept a 'worker's wage'. They oppose air traffic control privatisation as well as privatied railways. They claim to defend public services, and want public ownership. They say they ‘defent in a modern way the best socialist principles of the pioneers who formed the Labour party 100 years ago.
UK INDEPENDENCE Party (UKIP)
The UKIP slogan is to "Leave the EU, you keep the £ forever". The argue that by leaving the EU it will end taxes on gas and electricity; end hospital closures; create better equipped schools; and so forth all because the money will be spent in the UK rather than given to Europe. They say this will stop Vat on children's clothes, retain Duty Free and help fishermen. They want the UK to control it's own economy, make it's own laws and keep it's own currency, forever. They also point to the corrupt element of the EU. The UKIP also have a policy to scrap the Scottish Parliament, and Welsh Assembly.
PRO-LIFE Alliance
The party is deeply opposed to abortion and wants to see an end to it, the hold a similar attitude to euthanasia, although they are not a single issue party. They also want to see Section 28 extended to local health authorites.
From the Ayr Advertiser
The candidate said "I strongly disagree with the Scottish Executive's abolition of Section 28. The vast majority of parents are in agreement with the clause being retained and I would urge our new MSPs to truly be a government of the people for the people, forget the blind ideology and let common sense avail" He also called for greater promotion of tourism in South Ayrshire and asked for Proportional Representation to be extended to local councils.
INDEPENDENT - The 'Radio Vet' (Clif Votcherby)
From the 'Ayr Advertiser'
Clif Botcherby is standing as a Scottish Independent, he has launched a campaign this week aimed at preserving Section 28. But his election campaign leaflet also mentions his rivals. It reads 'New labour treats the electorate with contempt; There's not an electable Conservative here other than Phil Gallie (He didn't risk the attempt); Scot Nats want to go too far too fast; Lib Dems - did you see their leaflet? Schoolboy stuff; Greens - We're Green enough round here'
This candidate has also recived support from Mr McKechan
Movement against HUMAN CLONING (Scotland)
The name speaks mainly for itself
More info in the statements from candidates
NOTE: All the policies detailed above come direct from the parties and the information they have supplied to the public, and on occasion via the local (unbiased) press. They are written in good faith and all attempts have been made to ensure their accuracy. Some readers may notice that certain policies do not relate to the Scottish Parliament, yet they are mentioned as that is what the parties have declared on their own literature. (Also, some entries are longer due to more detailed information on polices being made available - the big two parties are particularly guilty of focusing on the 'brand name' of the party and wanting to be 'all things to all people').
Details of the policies of all the parties at the Scottish Election in May are available here (taken from BBC Online).