ADOPTION MEETING 31/3/07

Glasgow Pollok SNP will formally adopt their candidate for the Scottish Elections, Chris Stephens, this Saturday, 31/3/07 at 7.30pm, in the Pollok Community Centre, Langton Road, Pollok. Guest speakers will be Jimmy Reid (pictured) and Michael Matheson MSP.

Tickets £8 waged, £4 unwaged.

All Welcome.

ITS TIME FOR A FAIR DEAL FOR HARD WORKING SCOTS

The people of Pollok are still reeling from the impact of Gordon Brown's budget and his decision to double the tax rate for low paid workers, from 10% to 20%. This act clearly shows how far New Labour have abandoned the principles of social justice, which they elected to uphold.

The SNP have published analysis, showing that Brown's Budget will be a worse deal for;

395,000 full time workers in Scotland who earn less than £17,000 a year

441,000 part time workers in Scotland who earn less than £17,000 a year.

the 2 most interesting quotes from the Budget thus far;

Grahame Smith STUC General Secretary "Whilst time is required to properly determine the full impact, abolition of the 10p starter rate means that the 2% cut in income tax is unlikely to benefit the majority of workers.

Mike Warburton Senior Tax Partner at accountants Grant Thornton " It is ironic that this effectively penalises some of the poorest families - who benefit most proportionately from the 10% band - to pay for this pre-election giveaway"

The SNP believe the best way to cut tax is to abolish the unfair, regressive Council Tax in favour of a fair, local income tax that will see 9 out of 10 residents in Pollok pay less.

Whilst this policy will resonate with the communities of Pollok, New Labour will pay a heavy price for abandoning principle and attacking the lowest paid in our society.

ITS TIME FOR A FAIR DEAL FOR HARD WORKING SCOTS.

ALYN SMITH MEP VISITS POLLOK

Today i was joined by Alyn Smith MEP on the campaign trail. After some canvassing - which went well, we met local community activist and anti poverty campaigner Anne Marie Smith, who took us around the Constituency pointing out the lack of community facilities, due to them either having been demolished or now permanently closed.

Thereafter we visited Priesthill Community Halls, where volunteers like Flo Black are keeping the place running, with activities for the whole community, and then onto visit the Pollok Young Peoples Project, before meeting other community activists in the Wedge.

The main theme running through the whole day was how all these good projects and community organisations rely on short term funding, with many organisations and services being lost due to inadequate funding from Government and Council.

It is clear that Pollok needs real long term investment to strengthen our communities and help lift people out of poverty.

Over the next few weeks, I will be talking to people in the Constituency showing how only a vote for the SNP can achieve these goals.

ITS TIME FOR A GOVERNMENT SCOTLAND CAN TRUST

SNP delegates from across Scotland left Glasgow's Science Centre yesterday ready to take on the challenges of Government after May, and to build a country we can all be proud of.

With high profile endorsements from George Mathewson, former chairman of the Royal Bank of Scotland, lifelong peace campaigner and CND activist Bruce Kent, and Brian Souter, support from all sections in society are turning towards the SNP to lead Scotland to a better future.

The key message from the conference was that only the SNP can deliver a fair, just, prosperous country. As always the standard of contributions and speeches was of the highest quality.

Over the next 45 days the SNP in Pollok will show how our programme and the noble cause of Independence can move Scotland forward.

Pollok has a clear choice on May 3rd - stagnation, failure, and headlines for all the wrong reasons or a brighter, fairer, more democratic, healthier, wealthier future with the SNP.

ITS TIME!

IT'S TIME FOR FAIR LOCAL TAXATION

At least 9 out of 10 residents in Pollok stand to gain from SNP proposals to abolish the unfair, regressive, Council Tax, and replace it with a Local Income Tax based on the ability to pay.

Here's how the SNP proposals could affect you;

(1) A single person currently earning £15,000, currently paying Council Tax of around £607, would pay£299 under the Local Income Tax.

(2) A single person currently earning £24, 755, and currently paying Council Tax of around £910 would pay £592 under the Local Income Tax.

(3) A family with 1 full time worker and one part time worker whose total income would be £32,000 a year, currently paying Council Tax of £1213, would pay £672 under SNP proposals.

(4) A joint household of say a nurse and police officer on a combined income of £44,000 a year, currently paying a Council Tax of say £1213 would pay £1017.

With the average income of Pollok lower than the Scottish by some £5,000, residents in Pollok stand to gain by moving local taxation to a fairer system.

Only a vote for the SNP on May 3rd will see fair, local taxes for Pollok.

ITS TIME FOR A DECENT MINIMUM WAGE

Once again the New Labour Government and the Low Pay Commission have missed a big opportunity to help eradicate poverty by only increasing the National Minimum Wage by a paltry 17p, with less for younger workers.

With the gap between rich and poor growing since New Labour came to office, a bold approach is needed to stop too many lives being blighted by low pay.

The SNP support a single National Minimum Wage, based on half male median earnings (currently £6.75 an hour) for all workers.

Having 3 different rates is a nonsense, and its time for young workers to be rewarded for the work they do, not punished on the basis on age.

A higher minimum wage will boost the economy, and low paid workers will be able to spend more to improve their quality of life.

Only the SNP will deliver a healthier, wealthier Scotland, based on social justice for all.

ITS TIME TO BRING HOSPITAL WAITING LISTS DOWN

Since 1999 NHS waiting times have increased to record levels, with fewer patients being treated than when New Labour came to office.

Hospital Services all over Scotland are at risk of being downgraded or closed altogether. New Labour and their Lib Dem partners in Government have failed to get to grips with the problems in our Health Service.

The result of this is that Scots NHS patients will now be made to wait TWICE as long for treatment as those south of the border.

IS SECOND CLASS TREATMENT FOR SCOTS THE BEST THEY CAN DO?

The SNP will take action to tackle staff shortages in the NHS.

To get waiting times down faster we will set up fast track diagnostic and treatment centres - within the NHS, not hived off to the private sector.

The SNP want to see a high quality, local and accountable NHS run for the benefit of Scots.

A vote for the SNP on May 3rd will protect Scotland's NHS.

In Pollok, the average life expectancy for a male is the 5th lowest (for females the 6th lowest) in Scotland. Glasgow Pollok needs a thriving NHS to address its health problems.

Only the SNP can deliver on health for Pollok.

ITS TIME FOR PUBLIC SECTOR WORKERS TO DUMP NEW LABOUR

Public sector workers and Trade Unions have reacted with anger, after Chancellor Gordon Brown announced a paltry 2% pay rise for Health Service and other groups of workers. The current Retail Price Index stands at 4.2%.

Scottish Secretary of UNISON, Matt Smith, commented in yesterdays Herald "its clearly unacceptable that anyone should be paid below inflation and that public sector workers should take this hit. Its bound to affect the way people approach the election.

Quite right too. The number of Public Sector workers living in Pollok, is higher than New Labours majority, and they have an ideal opportunity to give their verdict on May 3rd.

Only the SNP, with its proud public sector ethos, can protect jobs, services and pay.

Public Sector workers who are concerned that their union subscriptions are funding New Labour can log on to the link on this page for the SNP TRADE UNION GROUP, where you will find advice and assistance on this matter.

On May 3rd, Public Sector workers should dump New Labour and choose a better, accountable and vibrant public sector with the SNP.