21 April 2012

 The UK Con-Dem Government’s austerity programme has produced a stagnant economy in the Highlands, says Rhoda Grant MSP.

Labour’s on your side – and we won’t walk away from tough choices.

Labour is on your side in tough times – and we won’t walk away from tough choices.

That’s the message from Highland Labour to electors in the Highlands as they launch their manifesto for the 2012 Highland Council elections.

Commitments to jobs for young people, early years education, affordable housing and joined up rural transport services are at the heart of Labour’s programme.

And the party has also affirmed its commitment to action on a Living Wage for Highland Council employees and other workers across Highland.

In these difficult times, Labour’s priorities will be:

Jobs, skills and opportunities for young people

Affordable childcare and early years education

More affordable housing

High quality, reliable public and community transport

Close co-operation with the voluntary sector

Respect, support and dignity for older people

Labour Group leader Jimmy Gray says:

“To deliver on our priority commitments, Highland Labour believes it is vital to maintain and uphold financial discipline and control. 

“We will not walk away from difficult decisions but we will always do our utmost to protect and develop essential services.  

“The SNP are promising sound management.  

“They need to explain why they walked away from difficult decisions in 2008. 

“We didn’t walk away from the people of the Highlands then and we won’t walk away now.”

Key Highland Labour manifesto policies include:

To work to ensure every teenager who wants to work in the Highlands has an apprenticeship or training programme improving their prospects of a real job when they leave school or college.

To actively plan how Highland Council can deliver a Living Wage for its own staff whilst reviewing its procurement policies to ensure that a Living Wage is paid by all companies providing goods and services to the Council.

To start talks aimed at setting up a Highland-wide ‘childcare co-op’ to provide affordable child care for working parents in every community where such a service is needed.

To set up a Highland-wide task force to find fair ways to bring suitable land into use for housing and to press the Scottish Government to release money for Highland Council to build new high-quality and affordable homes for rent.

To work with the Scottish and UK Governments, utility companies and others to deliver home insulation schemes that will make a difference to households in fuel poverty. 

To support joined up transport schemes which meet the needs of local communities and to investigate why monopoly bus providers fail to meet the needs of people.

Former Westminster Candidate Mike Robb, who is Labour and Co-operative candidate for Ward 13, Aird & Loch Ness says:

“These are difficult times for any council in Scotland.  Coalition cuts, made worse by the policies of the SNP government in Edinburgh mean that Highland Council has to get its priorities right.  

“Our manifesto makes clear what we think those priorities should be. 

“The SNP walked away in 2008 and left others to make the tough choices. 

“We will never do that. 

“Labour will always stand up for ordinary people in tough times.”

John Erskine, Scottish Labour Candidate for Ward 9, Dingwall & Seaforth says:

 “As the youngest candidate for Scottish Labour in the Highland Council area I am delighted to see jobs, skills and opportunities for young people at the top of our Council manifesto priorities.”

Deirdre Mackay, Scottish Labour Councillor for Ward 5, East Sutherland & Edderton, says:

 “In building our manifesto, we’ve worked with party members and community representatives from across the Highlands to develop a programme which is clear about what‘s important to ordinary people.”  

Download the manifesto