Labour has failed Scotland - Clegg

Ahead of today's [Friday] speech at the Scottish Liberal Democrat Spring Conference, Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg said:

"Labour has failed to deliver for Scotland. Labour's banking crisis and recession has caused serious damage to the Scottish economy and businesses.

"Under the Labour Government the gap between rich and poor has grown wider and social mobility has foundered.

[More from Nick Clegg]

Sir Robert Smith is the Lib Dem candidate for West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine

Actual result in West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine in 2005

Sir Robert Smith is the Lib Dem candidate for West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine for the forthcoming general election. Robert has served West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine as its MP since 1997.

• Sir Robert has been a strong support for us in the Westminster Parliament

• Sir Robert works with our communities

• Sir Robert supports the Oil and Gas industry in the North East of Scotland and is widely respected in the industry

• Liberal Democrats offer a fairer society

• Liberal Democrats can lead us out of the economic mess

Five good reasons for voting for Robert Smith and the Liberal Democrats

[Read more about Robert Smith]

[Read Robert Smith's Column]

Do you want to vote by post?

Voting by post is an easy way to vote. You can use the link below to generate a postal vote application form. You then print off the form, sign it and post it off. The address to which the form has to be sent will be filled in automatically for you.

It couldn't be easier!

[Generate a postal vote form]

Our four key pledges to deliver a fairer society are

Sir Robert Smith, Lib Dem candidate for West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine

Fair Taxes:

We will make the first £10,000 you earn tax-free. People earning £10,000 or less will not pay any income tax and those on the basic rate of tax will have a tax cut of £700 per year. We'll pay for it by making sure the rich pay their fair share by introducing a mansion tax on the value of homes over £2M, by taxing income and capital gains at the same rate, and switching tax from income to pollution.

A fair and sustainable economy that creates jobs:

We will make Britain the world leader in the green economy - investing to create tens of thousands of new jobs that last. We will use at least £3.5 billion of savings that we have identified from current expenditure in the first year of a new government to invest in public transport, a national programme of home insulation and new social housing. Our nation's finances need to be sustainable too - we will be honest about where savings must be made to balance the books and will break up the banking system to ensure financial gambling can never again bring our economy to its knees.

Fair, transparent and more local politics:

We will introduce a fair voting system to end safe seats so all MPs listen to people; we will ensure MPs can be sacked by their voters if they break the rules; we will return powers to local councils and local communities so they can take more decisions that affect their local areas and we will stop tax avoiders from standing for parliament, sitting in the House of Lords or donating to political parties.

A fair start for all our children:

We will give help to disadvantaged children to ensure a fair start to life for all our children.

Bervie Braes - Quick Decision Expected

At talks held in Stonehaven on Saturday 27 February John Swinney promised a swift decision about Government funding for the stabilisation of Bervie Braes. All who attended the meeting regarded it as positive and constructive meeting.

RUMBLES TO HOLD TALKS WITH SWINNEY ON BERVIE BRAES FUNDING

Friday 26 February

West Aberdeenshire & Kincardine MSP Mike Rumbles is to hold talks in Stonehaven tomorrow with Finance Secretary John Swinney to discuss Bervie Braes.

Mr Rumbles wrote to Mr Swinney to ask for a meeting earlier this month.

Commenting Mike Rumbles said:

"I am pleased that John Swinney has agreed to these talks. Clearly the terrible scenes in Stonehaven have brought this into sharp focus.

"What I will be looking for from this meeting is a solution. We need money to stabilise the Bervie Braes and John Swinney is the only person who can give the go ahead.

"I am expecting the Cabinet Secretary to come to the meeting with solutions and for the Scottish Government to take swift action thereafter."

[SALMOND HAS WASHED HIS HANDS OF BERVIE BRAES: RUMBLES]

[RUMBLES SLAMS SNP "NEGLIGENCE" ON BERVIE BRAES]

Urgent Action needed on Bervie Braes - Cllr Peter Bellarby

Thursday 25 February

Aberdeenshire Council is evacuating homes below Bervie Braes, Stonehaven, following heavy rain and five landslips in one day.

Stonehaven Councillor, Peter Bellarby, said: "I am really sorry for all the residents the Council has had to advise to evacuate. It is a very worrying situation for them as it is unclear when they might be able to return to their homes. The Council's emergency evacuation plan has worked well but urgent action is needed now to stabilise the Braes."

John Swinney, at a recent meeting in Aberdeen, said that he was asking Transport Scotland engineers to meet Aberdeenshire Council engineers so that he could be advised on the current condition of the Braes and be given an assessment of the options available to stabilise the Braes.

Cllr Bellarby has contacted John Swinney to urge him to ensure that the engineers provide that advice without further delay so that a decision about funding from the Scottish Government can be made. Cllr Bellarby said: "The Scottish Government must provide funds. That is the only way that work can be done on the Braes to provide a long term solution. Surely they must see from the landslips that have occurred today that action is needed with no more delay. The Scottish Government must respond to the plight of the residents who stay under the Braes."

Sir Robert Smith MP comments following the land slide at Bervie Braes, Stonehaven

Local MP Sir Robert Smith commented after his visit to Stonehaven following the landslide at Bervie Braes, Stonehaven.

He said "This is an extremely stressful situation for householders. I welcome the response of the council and emergency services.

It must now be clear to the Scottish Government that the Council's case for action on the braes is an urgent priority."

Recent stories about Bervie Braes

[Engineers to assess stability of slopes]

[Comment from Mike Rumbles]

[Rumbles calls for Bervie Braes Talks with Government]

[Peter Bellarby renews call for the Scottish Government to provide funds for Bervie Braes]

RUMBLES ANGER AS TRANSPORT MINISTER TRASHES HIS OWN EVIDENCE

West Aberdeenshire & Kincardine MSP Mike Rumbles today (Tuesday, 2nd March) slammed Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson after claiming that Scottish Government evidence to the Scottish Parliament's Public Petitions Committee was not correct.

Scottish Government agency Transport Scotland submitted a report as evidence to the Committee in October 2009 showing that a grade separated junction on the A90 at Laurencekirk could be built for £4.6 million.

However addressing the Committee today, the Minister claimed that the figure was incorrect.

Commenting West Aberdeenshire & Kincardine MSP Mike Rumbles said:

"It is ridiculous for the Scottish Government to formally submit evidence to the committee saying that a flyover at Laurencekirk could be built for £4.6 million, but then for the Transport Minister to turn round a few months later and trash his own report. How can we take anything the Minister says seriously when he contradicts himself in this way?

"The Minister made it clear that the only chance of getting a flyover was if and when 1,000 new houses are built in Laurencekirk. If that happens it could take years, and who knows how many serious and fatal accidents up until that point?"

The Minister revealed that a flyover would only be considered if there were three fatal accidents at the junction in three years, and offered a meeting between petitioner Jill Campbell and officials from Transport Scotland.

Safety Improvements at Bruntland Road junction a low priority

Safety improvements to a road junction where there was a serious bus accident are a "low priority" for the Scottish Government. Aberdeenshire Councillor Paul Melling has reacted angrily to the news. It seems reducing the number of accidents at the Bruntland Road Portlethen junction on the A90 is not on ministers' list of priorities for the area.

There have been a large number of accidents at the junction. In December 2009 a bus crash there left a young mother with serious injuries and she had to undergo an emergency caesarian section.

Paul Melling, Councillor for North Kincardine, has been campaigning for improvements at the junction for many years.

[Full story here]

Liberal Democrats take a close look at Oil & Gas Businesses

On Friday 12th February Simon Hughes the Liberal Democrat Energy and Climate Change spokesman visited a range of oil and gas businesses across Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire with local MP Sir Robert Smith and Malcolm Bruce, MP for Gordon . This included a visit to Sub Atlantic in Blackburn to let the MP's see the specialist sub-sea equipment exported to clients across the globe from the NE.

[Full story here]

Stonehaven's Gift Corner reopens

On Thursday 11th February Sir Robert Smith MP officially reopened a popular north-east gift shop which provides employment for people with disabilities.

[Full story here]

Our Next Quiz Night

Why come to our popular Quiz night? It's the challenge of the grey matter!

The Quiz will be on Friday 12th March from 7.30pm till 10.30pm at Crathes Village Hall.

Tickets will be £10 per person including Isobel's traditional homemade stovies plus oatcakes and beetroot.

Let us know if you wish to come along and also whether you have special dietary requirements.

Let us know by sending a message to: events@waklibdems.or.uk

RUMBLES RE-SELECTED BY LOCAL LIB DEMS

West Aberdeenshire & Kincardine Liberal Democrats have re-selected Mike Rumbles as their candidate for Scottish Parliament elections.

Mr Rumbles, who has served as MSP for the constituency since 1999, was selected by local members for the fourth consecutive time at the constituency party's SGM in Banchory on Friday 21 November.

Commenting Mr Rumbles said:

"I am very honoured that local members have selected me once again to be their candidate. It has been a real privilege to serve the people of West Aberdeenshire & Kincardine since 1999 and I am grateful to the local Liberal Democrat members for giving me the opportunity to stand as their candidate in the next elections to the Scottish Parliament."

Note: This selection is for the existing constituency of West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine. A review of Scottish Parliament constituencies is currently being undertaken by the Boundary Commission for Scotland so the situation may well change in the future.

Local MPs Sir Robert Smith and Malcolm Bruce are inviting local radio stations to take part in a consultation over the future of local radio.

The MPs are responding to the Digital Economy Bill, which is due to be examined by the House of Commons shortly. The bill aims to provide "arrangements to help ensure that radio stations and infrastructure are prepared for the digital switchover". Lord Carter, author of the "Digital Britain" report has set a target date of 2015 for the switchover.

[Full story here]

Minister Faces Grilling on Laurencekirk Junction

West Aberdeenshire & Kincardine MSP Mike Rumbles has welcomed the news that Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson is to be summoned before the Scottish Parliament's Public Petitions Committee on Tuesday 2nd March.

The Minister has been called to respond to Jill Campbell's petition calling for a flyover to be built on the A90 at Laurencekirk.

[To continue with this story click here]

FOCUS: Stonehaven and Lower Deeside

Local Liberal Democrats have called on the Scottish Government to establish an independent public local inquiry into the recent flooding in Stonehaven.

[FOCUS: Stonehaven and Lower Deeside]

FOCUS: North Kincardine

Cllr Ian Mollison at the railway line

The North-east is grinding to a halt under an SNP Government

Both Cllr Ian Mollison and Cllr Paul Melling along with Mike Rumbles MSP are annoyed that SNP Ministers have left the Aberdeen Crossrail scheme gathering dust and delayed making a decision about the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route.

Cllr Melling said "The schemes are vital for the Northeast, and vital for the Newtonhill and Portlethen area. Meanwhile we are forced to use the A90 which grinds to a halt whenever there's a minor bump.

A campaign for a safe route for cyclists and walkers between Newtonhill and Portlethen is making progress.

[Focus: North Kincardine - Updated February 2010]

FOCUS: Banchory and Mid Deeside

Cllr Karen Clark at Raemoir Road Junction

Junction Safety Fears Addressed

Following concerns raised by Cllr Karen Clark, she has welcomed Aberdeenshire Council's actions to improve road safety at the junction where the A980 and B977 meet at the entrance to the Raemoir House Hotel.

[Focus: Banchory and Mid Deeside]

Scottish Spring Conference 2010

[Spring Conference details]

The Liberal Democrats launch a Social Network: Act

The Liberal Democrats have launched their second new website. This time it is a social network site called

[Act]

[Click for more on Act]

Working for you in West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine

Working for you: our MP and MSP

Sir Robert Smith MP and Mike Rumbles MSP

Sir Robert Smith is MP for West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine.

Robert was first elected to Parliament in 1997. Robert presently holds the position of Shadow Deputy Leader of the House of Commons. He is a member of the Energy and Climate Change Committee and the Procedures Committee. He was shadow energy spokesperson 2005-06. He has served on the Trade and Industry Committee, the Scottish Affairs Committee and the International Development Select Committee. He is Joint Vice-chair of the UK Offshore Oil and Gas Industry Group.

[See Robert Smith's Column]

Mike Rumbles is MSP for West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine.

Mike was first elected to the Scottish Parliament in 1999 and has been Convenor of the Standards Committee, Health spokesperson and Local Government and Transport spokesperson. He is currently Scottish Liberal Democrat Business Manager and Chief Whip.

[Click to see "Holyrood Happenings" by Mike Rumbles]

Alison McInnes is MSP for North East Scotland

Alison McInnes MSP

Alison was elected to the Scottish Parliament in 2007 as a regional MSP for the North East of Scotland, including West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine. She is currently the Scottish Liberal Democrats' spokesperson on Transport, Local Government and Climate Change.

George Lyon is the new Liberal Democrat MEP for Scotland

In the European elections the Liberal Democrats:

* Gained an extra MEP (and more or less maintained our vote share)

[Biography of George Lyon]

There are Fourteen Lib Dem Councillors Working for you in West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine

Aboyne, Upper Deeside and Donside Ward

Cllrs Peter Argyle and Rosemary Bruce

Cllr Peter Argyle

Cllr Rosemary Bruce

This ward includes Aboyne, Torphins, Lumphanan, Tarland, Ballater, Braemar and Strathdon.

Banchory and Mid-Deeside Ward

Cllr Karen Clark

This ward includes Banchory, Kincardine O' Neil, Finzean and Crathes.

Cllrs Karen Clark, Alastair Ross and Richard Stroud

Huntley, Strathbogie and Howe of Alford Ward

Cllr Alastair Ross

Cllr Richard Stroud

This ward includes Alford, Huntly, Cusalmond, Rhynie, Lumsden, Keig and Monymusk.

The ward straddles the areas covered by West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine Lib Dems and Gordon Lib Dems.

Mearns Ward

Cllr Tom Fleming

Provost Bill Howatson

This ward includes Laurencekirk, Inverbervie, Gourdon, Johnshaven, St Cyrus, Marykirk, Edzell Woods, Fettercairn, Auchenblae and Glenbervie.

Cllrs Tom Fleming, Bill Howatson, Paul Melling and Ian Mollison

North Kincardine Ward

Cllr Paul Melling

Cllr Ian Mollison

This ward includes

Portlethen

Newtonhill

Muchalls, Netherley, Maryculter and Banchory Devenick.

Cllrs Peter Bellarby and Mike Sullivan

Stonehaven and Lower Deeside Ward

Cllr Peter Bellarby

Cllr Mike Sullivan

This ward includes Stonehaven, Drumoak and Durris.

West Garioch Ward

Cllr Hazel Al-Kowarri

Cllr Sheena Lonchay

Sheena is a member of Gordon Lib Dems.

This ward includes Kemnay, Insch, Oyne and Old Rayne. The ward straddles the areas covered by West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine Lib Dems and Gordon Lib Dems.

Cllrs Hazel Al-Kowarri, Sheena Lonchay and Gurudeo Saluja

Westhill and District Ward

Cllr Gurudeo Saluja

This ward includes Westhill, Elrick, Echt, Dunecht and Sauchen.

West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine Liberal Democrats

Who are we?

West Aberdeenshire & Kincardine Liberal Democrats are what the Lib Dems call a Local Party. In our case it covers the same area as the Scottish Parliament Constituency of West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine does. Note that this is nearly, but not quite, the same as the area of the Westminster Constituency of West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine.

How do we work?

We have an Executive Committee comprising:

Paul Melling, Convener

Convener: Paul Melling convener@waklibdems.org.uk

Vice-convener: Mike Hall

Secretary: Maureen Strachan

Treasurer: Peter Bellarby

Campaigns Officer: Sheila Thomson

Fundraising Office: Karen Clark

Membership Secretary: Mike Rumbles

and a number of members.

Other Local Parties

The links below will take you to the websites of other Local parties in the North East of Scotland.

[Aberdeen South Liberal Democrats]

[Banff and Buchan Liberal Democrats]

Nick Clegg Welcomes you to our Web Site

"Welcome to our website. The Liberal Democrats are now the only party that can deliver social justice. We are only choice for anyone who wants a fairer Britain.

"We will put money back in the pockets of ordinary families. We will build a stable, green economy for each and every one of us. We will change politics so that every person counts.

"You can find out more, including how to keep in touch or join the Liberal Democrats, on this site."

[Archive of earlier news stories]

[Archive of earlier articles]

[Archive of earlier speeches]

News Story Feed (v1.0).

Press Article Feed (v1.0).

Speech Feed (v1.0).

West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine Liberal Democrats

Working for You