Tag Archives: Scottish Labour

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Key Scottish exports must be protected from Brexit disaster

Key Scottish exports must be protected from a Brexit disaster, Labour said today.

Speaking ahead of a visit to Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis, Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale said the Tories’ reckless approach to leaving the European Union (EU) will put at risk the protected status of food and drink products such as black pudding, Scotch beef and lamb, Arbroath Smokies and whisky.

A number of food and drink products in Scotland and across the UK have protected status under EU law. This protects the products against imitation throughout the EU.

Labour has asked the UK Government how it will protect the brand status of UK products registered under the EU’s Protected Designation of Origin (PDO), Protected Geographical Indication (PGI), and Traditional Speciality Guaranteed (TSG) schemes.

Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale said:

“The Tories’ reckless Brexit gamble has put key Scottish exports like black pudding, Scotch beef and whisky at risk.

“Food and drink exports are a key part of the Scottish economy, particularly our island economies. They secure jobs, grow the economy and are essential to the distinctive nature of Scotland’s Highlands and Islands. 
“Any post-Brexit trade deal must protect the status of our key food and drink products. The Tories would sell our islands’ economies down the river. Only a Labour government will fight to keep the protected status of key British food and drink products.

“With one vote for Labour on June 8, Scots can reject both Theresa May’s plan for a hard Brexit and Nicola Sturgeon’s plan for a divisive second independence referendum.”

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Scottish Labour

DARLING AND McDOUGALL: VOTE LABOUR TO SAY NO TO INDEPENDENCE

11 May 2017

DARLING AND McDOUGALL: VOTE LABOUR TO SAY NO TO INDEPENDENCE

Former Better Together leaders Alistair Darling and Blair McDougall have joined forces to urge Scots to reject another divisive independence referendum by voting for Labour.

Former Better Together chairman Mr Darling has written to tens of thousands of voters in East Renfrewshire on behalf of Labour General Election candidate Blair McDougall, who was Better Together’s campaign director.

In his letter, Mr Darling – the former Chancellor – endorses Blair McDougall as the best candidate to take on the SNP in East Renfrewshire and urges voters not to risk letting the Nationalists back in.

Scottish Labour candidate for East Renfrewshire Blair McDougall said:  

“I am delighted with Alistair Darling’s endorsement. He and I brought together voters from across the political spectrum to stop the SNP in 2014 and I can do it again in East Renfrewshire.

“East Renfrewshire is home for me. I was raised here and I’m raising my family here. I want to be a campaigning local MP focused on making our home better rather than on dividing us from our neighbours.

“I won’t go to Westminster to back a hard Brexit or to cheer lead for independence. If voters want to send Nicola Sturgeon a message to drop her plans for a divisive second independence referendum, they must vote Labour on June 8.

“A vote for any other party simply risks letting the SNP back in, and increases the risk of another unwanted referendum.

“Voting Tory won’t send a message to Nicola Sturgeon, it will only send Theresa May back to Downing Street to deliver a hard Brexit that gives the Nationalists the excuse they are looking for to call another divisive referendum.”

The text of Alistair Darling’s letter is as follows:

Blair McDougall ran the winning campaign against independence. On June 8th he’s standing to be your next MP.

I retired from frontline politics after the independence referendum but I’m sending you this letter because your vote at the General Election on June 8th can send a strong message to Nicola Sturgeon that our No vote should be respected.

Blair McDougall and I brought together Labour, the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats to form the Better Together campaign. Blair led the fight against the SNP and we won. Now we need your help to bring together the votes of the majority again.

In East Renfrewshire the No vote was one of the highest in the country, but despite that result today you are represented by the SNP who want to force another divisive referendum.

Why? Because at the last General Election the votes of the No-voting majority were split, letting the SNP win in East Renfrewshire. Too many people who voted No in the independence referendum voted for the Conservatives, who finished in a distant third place, and Labour was narrowly defeated.

Please don’t risk that this time. Use your vote to elect an MP who will oppose Nicola Sturgeon’s plan for another divisive referendum and will tell her to focus on the day job of fixing our schools and hospitals.

A vote for the Conservatives won’t stop another divisive referendum. It will simply let the SNP win again.

Regardless of what is happening across the country, and regardless of what the opinion polls say, we know what the real result was here last time.

Please don’t risk it. Use your vote for Labour this time, to say No to independence and to elect Blair McDougall as your next Member of Parliament.

Yours sincerely,

Alistair Darling

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Scottish Labour

JOHN SMITH’S WIDOW BACKS IAN MURRAY

9 May 2017

JOHN SMITH’S WIDOW BACKS IAN MURRAY

The widow of former Labour leader John Smith has backed Ian Murray’s bid for re-election in Edinburgh South.

Elizabeth Smith, an Edinburgh South resident, said that Ian Murray speaks up for ordinary people – the very reason John Smith got into politics.

John Smith served in the cabinet in the 1970s, and was Labour leader at the time of his death in 1994.

Elizabeth Smith said:

“My late husband, John Smith, said: ‘Why would anyone go into politics unless it was to speak up for people who can’t speak up for themselves?’ Ian has always spoken up for ordinary people.”

Ian Murray said:

“I am honoured to have Elizabeth Smith’s backing in my bid to beat the Nationalists in Edinburgh South. John Smith was my political hero, and his legacy was the reason I stood for election in the first place.

“I have a strong track record of standing up for people here in Edinburgh South, and I want the opportunity to carry on doing that.

“We know that it’s a two horse race between me and the Nationalists. The only way to send a message to Nicola Sturgeon that people don’t want another divisive independence referendum is to vote Labour on 8 June.”

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Scottish Labour