Cllr Jim Barrie
SNP Candidate for Dundee West
Dundee SNP Campaign ‘On The Move’
The SNP candidates for Dundee East and Dundee West are getting around their constituencies – quite literally. As well as getting round the voters on foot, Stewart Hosie and Jim Barrie are now regularly visible on all major bus routes in the city – as large posters – on the sides and on the rear of Travel Dundee buses – getting across the message round the clock. The SNP campaign in Dundee is moving ahead in all parts of the city and SNP activists are working hard to ensure the party brings off a historic double by winning both Dundee East and Dundee West on May 6.
On The Move – Stewart Hosie and Jim Barrie, Dundee's SNP team
SNP Open Campaign Office in Lochee
The SNP have opened an office in Dundee West as Jim Barrie’s campaign steps up its efforts to wrest the seat from Labour. The new shop at 5 Whorterbank is open most days and carries a full selection of campaign materials including window posters. The shop, which fronts onto Lochee Road, can also be accessed via Gray’s Lane, where there is parking. The telephone number for the shop is 848906.
JIm Barrie and SNP supporters beside the new shop at Whortebank
Candidate Jim Barrie said: “I’m delighted at the response we are receiving from the public who are coming to us to join the SNP and to get window posters, car posters and stickers. Voters are telling us they want to support our local champions. Many are angry about the three London parties’ ’stitch-up’ of the leaders’ debates. They are ’scunnered’ with both Labour and Tory politicians telling us that Scotland is irrelevant in this Election and they want us to stand up against Westminster.
“Most of all, they are sick at all the let-downs they have had at the hands of Labour. Since Tony Blair was elected, the gap between rich and poor has widened, Labour have taken us into an illegal war in Iraq and then into Afghanistan where they have failed to provide effective leadership or adequate support for the troops.
“Traditional Labour voters have been abandoned by a Labour Party which now tells us it will impose cuts in Scotland which will be ‘deeper and tougher’ than Mrs Thatcher’s and which still plans to waste £97 billion on new nuclear weapons systems. What reason does anyone have for voting Labour? Only that they are ‘not as bad as the Tories’ – and that’s not even true either. They are a party which is bankrupt of ideas – just as they have presided over a bankrupt Britain. No-one should trust a word they say. Only the SNP will stand up for the people of Scotland against Westminster whether run by Labour Tweedledum or Tory Tweedledee.”
Jim Signs the Power Pledge for Parliamentary Reform
Cleaning up and reforming politics at Westminster will play a big part in the General Election, according to Jim Barrie, the SNP Candidate for Dundee West. The expenses scandal and the ‘cash for influence’ scandal in recent months have left many people disillusioned with politics, says Jim, and urgent reform is needed.
Jim says: “Many people have written to me about their disgust with some MPs of the London-based parties and the abuses of power that have occurred at Westminster.
“The Westminster system is entirely lacking in credibility and this will continue until it is reformed.
”Of course, we in the SNP have the perfect solution to the ‘Westminster Problem’ as we wish the Scottish Parliament to have the full powers of a normal independent state. The Scottish Parliament has been held up as an example of transparent and accountable government with all MSPs’ expenses published on line.
“In the meantime, urgent changes are required to the House of Commons, including the introduction of proportional voting, scrapping the ID cards scheme, replacing the House of Lords with an elected chamber and allowing only English MPs to vote on English laws. At present SNP MPs do not vote on purely English matters in the House.
“I have been happy to sign the Power Pledge and interested voters can sign the pledge at: www.power2010.org.uk/ “
The Election Is A Straight Fight Between SNP and Labour
Stewart Hosie and Jim Barrie, the Dundee SNP Team for Westminster
On the day that the General Election was announced, Dundee’s SNP candidates Stewart Hosie and Jim Barrie commented on claims by a Labour opponent that the General Election would be a two-horse race between Labour and the Tories.
Jim Barrie, SNP Candidate in Dundee West said: “Only in the minds of certain desperate Labour candidates would the Tories seem like challengers. Even in their wildest dreams, the Tories cannot imagine that they have a hope in Scotland.
“Here in Scotland the Tories have only one MP and it is a surprise that Labour seems to want to ‘talk up the Tories’ for their own ends.
“This election is a straight fight between the SNP and Labour, between the popular and effective Scottish Government and a discredited Westminster system with a failing Labour Government which has run out of time and ideas.
“The election was announced today on the anniversary of the Declaration of Arbroath, Scotland’s declaration of independence in 1320 and it is time for Scots to take control of their own affairs once again.
“On polling day, the 6th of May, the people of Scotland can do more than just vote for a politician, they can elect a local champion who will stand up for Scotland at Westminster
“Elections are about far more than the three London parties playing a game of Pass the Prime Minister’s Hat.”
Stewart Hosie, who has served Dundee East for the past five years as MP said: “All three of the London parties offer the same agenda of cuts to Scotland’s budget.
“Labour have admitted they will cut ‘tougher and deeper’ than Thatcher, and the Tories are planning a special raid of the Scottish budget.
“The SNP are going into this campaign with a clear message for Scottish voters: more votes means more Nats, and more Nats means less cuts. The Westminster system is discredited, and only SNP champions can protect and promote Scotland’s interests.
“We can protect jobs, recovery and important local services and instead cut things like the £100,000 million replacement for Trident, identity cards, the House of Lords and the extravagantly-expensive Scotland Office.”
SNP Candidate Signs ‘Every Disabled Child Matters’ Pledge
The SNP Candidate for Dundee West has signed the ‘Every Disabled Child Matters’ Constituency Pledge.
Jim Barrie said: “I am more than happy to support the pledge, although I would note that many areas affecting disabled children are devolved to the Scottish Parliament – education, housing, social work and the NHS as examples.
“The SNP is firmly committed to equality for disabled people and is striving to create a Scotland that is fair and inclusive to all. Disabled people make up approximately one fifth of Scotland’s population, yet often experience high levels of inequality compared to non-disabled people.
“Disabled children in particular do suffer due to this inequality and don’t get the same chances as other children. They and their families shouldn’t have to fight for their rights or to receive services.”
SNP Candidate Spells Out Views on Forestry
Jim Barrie, SNP Candidate for Dundee West has been asked by local electors for his views on native woodland cover in the UK and what he will do, if elected at the General Election, on the issue.
Responding, Jim Barrie said: “Forestry is devolved to the Scottish Parliament, therefore any legislation passed at Westminster will only relate to forests in England. The SNP do not vote on any legislation which does not directly affect Scotland.
“However the SNP Government offer support for forestry in Scotland in a number of ways, through the Scottish Rural Development Programme (SRDP). The SDRP is a programme of economic, environmental and social measures, worth over one a half billion pounds, designed to develop rural Scotland from 2007 to 2013.
“One example is the Woodland Improvement Grant. The grant aims to improve the ecological and environmental value of woodlands and deliver on several outcomes: Long-term forest planning Reducing deer impact in woodlands Improving woodlands, through work related to designated sites and habitats and species that are priorities under the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy and UKBAP Improving even-aged woodland for biodiversity, scenic value and enhancing the ecological stability in the long term by restructuring their age and species composition Improving or restoring associated non-woodland habitats within woodlands, through work related to designated sites and habitats and species that are priorities under the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy and UKBAP.
“The SNP Government have also recently committed to planting another 100 million trees by 2015.”
Jim Is Committed To Helping to Beat Cancer
Jim Barrie, SNP Candidate for Dundee West has given his support to Cancer Research UK’s Cancer Commitment, ahead of the general Election. Responding to the charity’s letter inviting him to support the main aims of the charity, Jim Barrie said: “I am more than happy to support all efforts to detect, prevent and treat cancer more effectively.
“The SNP in Scotland has made huge progress in our commitment to have 95% of patients treated within 62 days of urgent referral with suspicion of cancer by 2011 which has been met each quarter since October – December 2008. Since the SNP came into government, the average wait is now 35 days, meaning that most patients are treated within just 6 weeks. “Staff across the health service have worked extremely hard to achieve this target and are continuing to keep this progress. More can still be done and we are working to achieve the ambitious goal to start treatment for all cancer patients within 31 days of their decision to treat.
“The SNP has also retained and enhanced children’s cancer services in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Dundee where they are currently provided, and are investing an additional £32 million to implement the National Delivery Plan, improving access to specialist services for children and young people and ensuring care is better, quicker, safer and closer to home.
“The improvement since the SNP took office in May 2007 shows how seriously we take this issue. In this election, it is more important than ever to elect local champions and a strong Scottish voice with the SNP to stop the UK Government from cutting frontline services like health rather than scrapping the £5 billion ID card project and the £100 billion replacement of Trident. Together, we are working to win the best deal for cancer patients and champion healthier communities across Scotland.
“I elected, I shall do my best to make the UK’s cancer outcomes the best in Europe.”
SNP Candidate Signs ‘Every Disabled Child Matters’ Pledge
The SNP Candidate for Dundee West has signed the ‘Every Disabled Child Matters’ Constituency Pledge.
Jim Barrie said: “I am more than happy to support the pledge, although I would note that many areas affecting disabled children are devolved to the Scottish Parliament – education, housing, social work and the NHS as examples.
“The SNP is firmly committed to equality for disabled people and is striving to create a Scotland that is fair and inclusive to all. Disabled people make up approximately one fifth of Scotland’s population, yet often experience high levels of inequality compared to non-disabled people.
“Disabled children in particular do suffer due to this inequality and don’t get the same chances as other children. They and their families shouldn’t have to fight for their rights or to receive services.”
SNP Candidate Spells Out Views on Forestry
Jim Barrie, SNP Candidate for Dundee West has been asked by local electors for his views on native woodland cover in the UK and what he will do, if elected at the General Election, on the issue.
Responding, Jim Barrie said: “Forestry is devolved to the Scottish Parliament, therefore any legislation passed at Westminster will only relate to forests in England. The SNP do not vote on any legislation which does not directly affect Scotland.
“However the SNP Government offer support for forestry in Scotland in a number of ways, through the Scottish Rural Development Programme (SRDP). The SDRP is a programme of economic, environmental and social measures, worth over one a half billion pounds, designed to develop rural Scotland from 2007 to 2013.
“One example is the Woodland Improvement Grant. The grant aims to improve the ecological and environmental value of woodlands and deliver on several outcomes:
- Long-term forest planning
- Reducing deer impact in woodlands
- Improving woodlands, through work related to designated sites and habitats and species that are priorities under the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy and UKBAP
- Improving even-aged woodland for biodiversity, scenic value and enhancing the ecological stability in the long term by restructuring their age and species composition
- Improving or restoring associated non-woodland habitats within woodlands, through work related to designated sites and habitats and species that are priorities under the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy and UKBAP.
“The SNP Government have also recently committed to planting another 100 million trees by 2015.”
Jim is Committed to Helping to beat Cancer
Jim Barrie, SNP Candidate for Dundee West has given his support to Cancer Research UK’s Cancer Commitment, ahead of the general Election.
Responding to the charity’s letter inviting him to support the main aims of the charity, Jim Barrie said: “I am more than happy to support all efforts to detect, prevent and treat cancer more effectively.
“The SNP in Scotland has made huge progress in our commitment to have 95% of patients treated within 62 days of urgent referral with suspicion of cancer by 2011 which has been met each quarter since October – December 2008. Since the SNP came into government, the average wait is now 35 days, meaning that most patients are treated within just 6 weeks.
“Staff across the health service have worked extremely hard to achieve this target and are continuing to keep this progress. More can still be done and we are working to achieve the ambitious goal to start treatment for all cancer patients within 31 days of their decision to treat.
“The SNP has also retained and enhanced children’s cancer services in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Dundee where they are currently provided, and are investing an additional £32 million to implement the National Delivery Plan, improving access to specialist services for children and young people and ensuring care is better, quicker, safer and closer to home.
“The improvement since the SNP took office in May 2007 shows how seriously we take this issue. In this election, it is more important than ever to elect local champions and a strong Scottish voice with the SNP to stop the UK Government from cutting frontline services like health rather than scrapping the £5 billion ID card project and the £100 billion replacement of Trident. Together, we are working to win the best deal for cancer patients and champion healthier communities across Scotland.
“I elected, I shall do my best to make the UK’s cancer outcomes the best in Europe.”
