Lib Dems offer alternative to Constitutional treacle

1.37.15pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 28th Mar 2007

A report ahead of the Holyrood elections from Scottish Liberal Democrat party leader Nicol Stephen to his party's Executive Committee has set out compelling new evidence which shows that when the public think that Lib Dems can win they are significantly more likely to vote Liberal Democrat.

Mr Stephen's report to his party colleagues coincides with the publication of the party's latest campaign poster which highlights how turned off the public are with the ongoing squabbling between Labour and the SNP.

Nicol Stephen believes that the current political climate offers the Liberal Democrats an unparalleled opportunity. All the evidence suggests that the voters are turned off by the negative squabbling which Labour and the SNP have engaged in over the last 100 days. And with the SNP conceding that they would spend their first one hundred days in office squabbling with the UK government early indications are showing disaffected Labour voters choosing to switch to the Lib Dems rather than the SNP.

Nicol Stephen MSP In his report Mr Stephen told his party colleagues:

"The last week has seen the stark choice facing people in Scotland. Labour and the SNP have spent the last 100 days squabbling. Now the SNP say they will spend the next 100 arguing and squabbling with London. Their priority is to jump Scotland into constitutional treacle.In the last few days they have invented even more barriers to put in the way of effective, strong Scottish government."

"My priority is different. I have set out a programme of action for Scotland - month by month for the whole of 2007. It will mean more police recruited, action to tackle climate change, a more positive role for young people in Scotland. All of these decisions can be taken, and work started, this year to get things done."

"Yet the SNP think people want months of sticky negotiations with Labour in London. The SNP won't get anything done until they have had a fight with London."

"People I meet tell me their priority is to get things done on crime reduction, better education, more local health care and climate change in 2007. They do not want to be led into constitutional treacle by the SNP and are moving to support the Liberal Democrats."

"This will be a powerful message. Our own internal polling has shown that if people believe that the Liberal Democrats can win these elections they will switch to vote for us in very large numbers - sufficient for 51 MSPs according to our February and March research. We would become Scotland's largest party.

"That is why we should be confident about our strong campaign, aiming to lead Scotland. We have the policies that will make a real difference to Scotland. And, alone amongst the parties, we will get things done in 2007."