"Labour have nothing positive left to offer on the economy" - Kevin Lang

5.00.00pm GMT Fri 13th Mar 2009

Kevin speaking on the economy at conference

Addressing the Scottish Liberal Democrat conference today in Perth, Kevin Lang, parliamentary candidate for Edinburgh North & Leith called for a radical set of policies to help Scotland and the UK get back on the economic road to recovery.

The conference voted overwhelmingly in favour of a package of proposals for action at Holyrood, Westminster and the European Parliament to help combat the deepening recession.

Speaking to the conference, Kevin Lang said,

"Every week, the Liberal Democrats knock on hundreds of doors and speak with hundreds of people in Edinburgh North & Leith, listening to what people have to say.

"We speak to people who are struggling - people who have lost their jobs and are struggling to find new employment - people who are struggling to pay their fuel bills, forced to chose between heating and eating - people who are struggling under the strain of increasing debt.

"We speak to people who are scared - scared of their home being repossessed, scared of losing their job, scared that they simply will not have the money to pay the next bill that comes through their letterbox.

"And we speak to people who are increasingly angry - angry at a Labour Government that has let them down so badly - a Government which now tries to blame anyone and everyone except themselves."

Kevin sent on to speak about the measures that will be needed to help the economy. He said

"We need to promote real, radical, reforming policies that will get Scotland and the UK back on the road to recovery. And as we march towards the next General Election, we will go armed with a package of policies that will provide real help to people in my constituency and constituencies across the country.

"Tax cuts for those on low and middle incomes - giving people more of their hard earned money to spend themselves during these tough times and ending the disgraceful system that means the richest pay a lesser share of their income in tax than the poorest.

"A new and transparent banking system that rebuilds credibility and rebuilds trust.

"Forcing energy companies to drop their prices when wholesale costs come down, with the same speed at which the put up their prices when wholesale costs increased.

"And rolling out a five year programme of investment - of insulation in schools and hospitals, of energy efficiently within 1 million homes, a substantial investment in public transport.

"It is an ambitious, positive, forward looking programme that shows that not only were we right about the problems that caused economic crisis, we have the ideas, we have the confidence to get Scotland and the UK on the road to recovery."

The conference will be addressed tomorrow by the Liberal Democrat Shadow Chancellor Vince Cable, one of the few politicians who had warned the Government for allowing spiralling personal debt, unsustainable house prices and the culture of dangerous and short term risk taking in the city.