ABERDEEN COUNCIL TO EVICT BEDROOM TAX VICTIMS

ABERDEEN COUNCIL TO EVICT BEDROOM TAX VICTIMS

Mon, 25/03/2013 - 17:11

Today the SNP group in Aberdeen City Council submitted an emergency motion calling for the council to not evict anyone subject to the bedroom tax who takes all reasonable steps to repay arrears.

The administration rejected hearing a motion to stop bedroom-tax evictions, whilst at the same time raised senior administration members pay £41,599 higher than the previous administration. The current Aberdeen City Council Administration is now the most expensive in history.

All SNP-run councils have committed to implementing a no eviction policy, following the lead of Dundee City Council, showing it can be delivered. The SNP group in Aberdeen City Council is calling on the administration to give Aberdeen tenants the same protection from this devastating policy.

SNP Group Leader Cllr Callum McCaig said:

“The bedroom-tax is a devastating policy being pursued by the UK Government. Local councils cannot do everything to protect people but the council can do this: they can remove the threat of eviction. When a council tenant runs into arrears through no fault of their own because of the bedroom-tax then the council should not be evicting them.

“The Labour-led administration has chosen today to put themselves and their salaries before the needs of the citizens of Aberdeen. They are failing to take action they could on the bedroom-tax whilst putting up their own salaries up.”

Aberdeen Central MSP Kevin Stewart – a member of the Scottish Parliament’s Welfare Reform Committee – said:

“This is probably the most ill thought-out policy since the Poll Tax, and Labour’s complete inability to stand up for the people of Aberdeen - while lining their own pockets - is as baffling as it is shameful.

“Almost 2000 people in Aberdeen are to be affected by this iniquitous tax – a tax which 90% of Scottish MPs have voted against, yet is still to be imposed on Scotland.

"As long as decisions about welfare are made in Westminster, Scotland will continue to have unfair and damaging policies forced on it by governments that we didn’t vote for. That is why Scotland needs to have the powers of independence, so that we can make decisions in and for Scotland."

http://www.snp.org/media-centre/news/2013/mar/aberdeen-council-evict-bedroom-tax-victims

Vote SNP tomorrow to look after Scotland's interests

I will be voting for an SNP Government tomorrow.

Over the last four years the SNP’s council tax freeze, the abolition of prescription charges, increases in nursery education and new and improved school buildings have all improved the quality of life for young families.

And it is our only opportunity in years to elect a Government that can bring forward a Referendum for Scottish Independence and Constitutional change in Scotland.

Alex Salmond is also a respected and intelligent viable First Minister in Scotland.

Many people in Scotland see the London government as remote and not properly representing our interests.

I therefore urge readers to use their votes to vote for a newer, greener, safer Scotland.
Larry

Vote for change and Scottish Democracy

Received this X-mas e-card from the SNP instead of a printed one in which savings can be directed to the SNP 2011 election appeal.

As we are approaching the end of the year thoughts turn to a better new year. In 2011 we will get the opportunity to vote the SNP back into Government here in Scotland.

The election campaign will be very important for the SNP as we have to persuade Scots that there is no point voting Labour since we end up getting English Tory rule from Westminster. What should be central to our thoughts is the only way to change the short comings of Devolution is to vote for Independence. Also on May 5th 2011 we can turn the AV referendum into an Independence Referendum. http://bellacaledonia.org.uk/2010/11/30/important-announcement-an-independence-referendum-will-take-place-on-5th-may-2011/

Devolution or the Calman proposals fail to allow Scotland to build our economy and have full fiscal powers.

At New Year I will probably have a whisky while being conscience of the fact that taxation of our national drink goes down to London and into the uk treasury.

We have to get our message across to the people and fight back against unionist propaganda that we are not able to look after ourselves like other smaller nations.

The coming months will be interesting and can be a time for change. The need for Scottish Democracy is more apparent today than at any time in modern history.

I look forward to the challenges that us Nationalists have before us.

Alex Salmond Exclusive in the Express

Checking the newspapers today to find an exclusive by Alex Salmond in the Scottish Sunday Express. And he rightly concedes that the Referendum Bill is “likely” to be defeated at Holyrood.

Well I cannot blame him for wanting to build for the Scottish elections May 2011. All the SNP need to do now is anticipate public anger at the Opposition for preventing the people a say in their constitutional future. Coupled with the arguments that an independent Scotland could reduce its share of the UK debt without the need for swingeing cuts, the SNP should be able to strike a chord with the Scottish people and have a second term in office.

The First Minister stands by his plans to press ahead with the controversial Referendum Bill next month, with a possible polling date of March 31 next year, even though Labour, the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats plan to vote it down.

But he told the Sunday Express: “I’ve always said that if the other parties don’t pass the bill – and that doesn’t look likely now, does it? – the people will have their say as to whether they want that opportunity in the election next year.
“People can take the decision to force the issue.

In view of the above I feel it necessary to say that if you want independence and prevent the hardship from the UK cuts then you have to vote SNP. This applies to everyone in the independence left also.

We must fight back at the lack of democracy that comes from the Unionist parties. The only way is to defeat them at the ballot box next May. Clearly the Unionists are running scared of an Independence Referendum and the SNP can only point out the reality of the situation. The only matter in hand is for the SNP to press ahead next month with the Referendum Bill and see what happens or what is inevitable.

I am disappointed but not with my party the SNP, but with the intransigence of the Unionists when faced with the progressive thinking and actions of the minority SNP Government.

A second term in Government would be good for the SNP and Scotland.
Larry

New SNP Supporters Group

I have started a new SNP supporters Group which is for quite simply supporters and members of the Scottish National Party. I discovered there was a need for one in Yahoo Groups and already I have six members who have joined. Here we can debate the merits of Independence and keep up to date with events. Membership of the group is open only to those that support Independence and the SNP.

Click here to join

Slainte
Larry