SNP in general election push

Tuesday, 25 January 2005 12:00 AM

With 100 days to go until May 5th, tipped as the likely date for the general election, the Scottish National Party has launched its general election campaign.

Speaking in Edinburgh, SNP leader Alex Salmond urged the Scottish voting public to make the 2005 general election matter for Scotland.

Declaring that "Scotland's general election campaign starts today - and the SNP is ready", Mr Salmond said it has the "strongest team" of local candidates, would be the only party totally focused on Scotland, and would use cutting edge technology to get its message across.

He said the SNP would fight to retain the Scottish regiments, against a new nuclear power station in Scotland, increase the basic state pension and retain more of Scotland's oil wealth.

North Sea oil and gas could be a "windfall that can transform Scotland" he said, adding the SNP would "create Scotland's own oil fund, a Windfall Fund for now and for future generations. A fund to put Scotland's oil where it belongs, under the control of the Scottish Parliament."

Mr Salmond also declared that it would fight and win a referendum on independence if elected.

The SNP would "set no limits" on its electoral progress he said, simply setting the objective as "progress".

Also marking 100 days to May 5th was the Scottish Conservatives. Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland and Scottish Conservative chairman Peter Duncan MP said that his party's policies would give the "people of Scotland and Britain value for money."

He said in the weeks to come the party would unveil its proposals to tackle problems in public services, school discipline, reduce Scotland's waiting lists and hire 1,500 more police officers.

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