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Paul's message to you is as follows:
"The next general election, whenever Gordon
Brown has the courage to call it, will be a close run
affair and there is a distinct chance there could be a hung parliament.
The larger the SNP group that we send to
Westminster, the greater will be our leverage to extract the best
deal for Scotland and for areas such as the Borders. SNP
members do not have to reconcile any conflict of interest in
fighting Scotland's corner,
and can represent our constituents' interests unfettered by
concerns about how it will play across the UK. Uniquely,
unlike all other parties, we don't formulate policy based upon
worries about the reaction among the chattering classes in London constituencies,
such as Finchley or Islington. We will always do what is in the best
interests of Scotland."
"The Lib Dems and Tories are working
with Labour to thwart Scotland's aspirations
for self-government at Westminster and Holyrood. This hardly
surprising given they are London run parties wishing to maintain the
Westminster gravy-train. However, the people of Scotland will
prevail."
"The Lib Dems and Tories also work to convince voters
that only one of them can win the seat, with the perennial call that
its a "two-horse race". Let us not forget that
history tells us that whenever the SNP
does well, the people of Scotland get taken seriously. Voting SNP
in the Borders would really put the area back on the map. More
people did not turn out to vote than voted for both those parties
put together. We will be working to energise all those who feel disenfranchised by the
big British unionist parties., Our young people and those who feel they are ignored
over issues like the Iraq war deserve proper representation."
" The SNP has seen its popularity grow
steadily as it has taken the helm of the Scottish Government, and
Alex Salmond's inspirational and astute leadership as First Minister
of that Government has confounded many hardened sceptics. We are
seen, by the fair minded majority, as a can do party, delivering a
can do Government, for a can do country. Only the three British
unionist parties are telling Scotland and the Scots that they can't
do this or that."
"The SNP has moved on massively since 2005,
with membership rising by 29% since December 2005 to 14,183
members by March 2008. We made history in May, giving Labour its first
electoral defeat in more than 40 years, during the 2007 Scottish Parliament
elections. Christine Grahame only narrowly missed out on
the seat
covering the Selkirkshire and Lauderdale areas, but won 33% of
the vote in the process. At the same time, a strong showing in
Roxburgh & Berwickshire was recorded with the voters delivering
21% of votes to the SNP on the list vote - our highest yet and
almost pushing the Lib Dems into third place. Labour's vote has
collapsed. Yet the Lib Dems and Tories pretend that nothing
has changed since 2005. I wonder why? Well, more fool them!"
"We now have 6 councillors on Scottish
Borders Council, four of
whom have their wards in the constituency and, in those elections, we scored
almost 20% of the vote, not 9%. So to those who ask: "can you
win?", we say a resounding "Yes!". We are
convinced that if we continue to build and can get our vote out, we have a real chance to
come through the middle and win in Berwickshire, Roxburgh and
Selkirk and deliver the real change that the people of the Borders
deserve. Join us in delivering that change."
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