Send a message to Westminster

Speaking to a gathering of 500 activists at the SNP campaign rooms in Glasgow East SNP Leader and Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond said that an SNP win in Glasgow East would leave Gordon Brown with no choice but to take action to meet people's demands over rising fuel prices and increasing taxes.

Introducing Cllr Mason, Alex Salmond said;

"This by-election is chance for people in Glasgow East to contrast the success of the SNP Government in Holyrood, cutting prescription charges, freezing the council tax and training more police for our communities with the actions of a UK Labour Government that has taken the voters of Glasgow East for granted and is hitting them hard with increases in taxation, higher road duty and failing to take action on rising fuel costs.

"This community in Glasgow East has some fantastic people.  The SNP Government is supporting people in this constituency and we are seeing real results.

"Where the actions of Strathclyde Police have driven down crime rates in areas like Easterhouse the people in those communities are responding with action for a better future.

"And where people in the East End see the success an SNP Government has delivered, those people across this constituency are swinging to the SNP.

"The people in Glasgow East are entitled to see delivery from their politicians.  They have seen delivery from the SNP in Government now they must demand delivery from Westminster.

"This by-election is the opportunity for voters across Glasgow East to send a message to London that there must be action to bring down rising fuel costs.  That Gordon Brown's plans to increase car tax on 12000 people in this constituency are unfair and unacceptable and that some of the £6 billion flowing into the treasury's coffers from Scotland's North Sea Oil must come back to Scotland and back to Glasgow East.

"Ten years ago John Mason beat the Labour party in a by-election and he has won every election since.  He is an outstanding candidate, an outstanding councilor and I believe will be an outstanding Member of Parliament who will speak up for Glasgow East and take the message from Glasgow East to Westminster that it's the SNP on your side."

SNP Candidate Cllr John Mason said;

"Last year saw a new beginning for Scotland as a whole – an SNP victory put a spring in people's step and brought the prospect of a better, more confident future for our country. It was and is a breath of fresh air.

"We can now bring that same success, that same effect here to Glasgow East – an SNP victory on 24 July will mean a new time for the East End.

"In this by-election Labour have gone back to their old ways.  Labour are bringing the politics of fear to the streets of Glasgow East – the SNP are offering the politics of hope.

"A vote for the SNP on July 24th is an opportunity for people in this constituency to call time on rising fuel prices, on road tax increases and 10p tax hikes and to send a message that will shake the foundations of Downing Street. Scotland's voice will he heard loud and clear – saying enough is enough."