31-10-02

John Barrett comments on visit by Iain Duncan Smith to Edinburgh West

John Barrett, the Scottish Liberal Democrat MP for Edinburgh West, today commented on the visit by Conservative Leader, Iain Duncan-Smith, to his constituency.

In a statement, John Barrett said:

"If Iain Duncan-Smith plans to use Edinburgh West in his campaign to pretend the Tories have changed, he's in for a rude awakening!

"The people of Edinburgh West have not forgotten about the actions of the Conservatives whilst in office and the impact their policies had locally.

"It was the Tories who closed the Accident and Emergency Service at the Western General Hospital, cut nurses and hospital beds whilst rocketing up prescription charges three times above inflation.

"After cutting the proportion spent on education, the Tories left many schools in West Edinburgh severely under resourced in crumbling buildings and with a serious shortages in books.

"It is also important to remember how the Tories totally failed to tackle crime in Edinburgh. Violent crime increased year on year under the Tories and they cut over 400 police in total whilst in office. Compare that with Jim Wallace's policy of extra investment along with the raising of police numbers to record levels.

"Edinburgh West hasn't forgotten the Tories record in office. If Iain Duncan-Smith thinks he can turn his party's fortunes around in this area, he's sadly mistaken."

ENDS

 

Notes to Editors:

* Iain Duncan-Smith is planning on visiting Edinburgh West on Friday 1st November.

* The Conservative share of the vote has decreased at every subsequent election in Edinburgh West since 1992.

1992 General Election - 38.2% (1st place)
1997 General Election - 27.9% (2nd place)
1999 Scottish Parliament Election - 25.4% (2nd place)
2001 General Election - 22.5% (3rd place)

* The Tories now have half the number of councillors in Edinburgh West as they had in 1992. The only hold two of the 10 wards, compared to 7 held by the Liberal Democrats.