The Herald Election Site

Interviews by GILLIAN BELL, BRIAN DONNELLY, ROB FAIRBURN, DAVID ROSS, GRAEME SMITH and GEMMA STEELE

Hazel Winn, 21, Kingswood, Glasgow
"I'm for independence, and I'll be voting for the SNP. I would have voted for Labour but the Iraq war put me off."

Margaret Binnie, 50, Corpach, near Fort William
"I am afraid Iraq is still the biggest single issue for me. I used to always vote Labour but Iraq has crystallised my thinking about politics, and in particular Westminster. I will be voting differently."

Michael Gormley, 41, Edinburgh
"Education and the environment. Green issues are important to me and are most likely to affect my voting - that and having a good education system for my children, who are just starting school."

Mark Cosgrove, 42, bus driver, Torry, Aberdeen
"Honesty is important to me in this election, and we haven't had much of that recently. A bit of honesty instead of hot air is what I want to see."

David Moran, 51, Perth
"Independence would be a really bad idea. A lot of jobs depend on the union, and a lot of companies might not support us if we split. We could potentially lose thousands of jobs."

Caroline MacKechnie, 59, post-mistress on the island of Raasay
"For me the big issue is education, always. We are still suffering from Margaret Thatcher's blight on this country, and you cannot spend too much on education.

Henry Thomson, 83, Knightswood, Glasgow
"Independence. We would have to look after our own NHS. Alex Salmond keeps talking about southern Ireland, but they don't have their own NHS. It would be a disaster for Scotland."

Marion Thomson, 82, Knightswood, Glasgow
"I don't want independence and I'm pleased with this government. They have been very good, especially with pensioners, giving us the fuel allowance."

Kathleen Sinclair, 60, Newhills, Aberdeen
"I would like to see an outcome that doesn't separate Scotland from the rest of the UK. I believe it is really important that we stay connected."

Kevin Kane, 36, Denny, near Falkirk
"The NHS. I've recently had a second hip operation and it's clear the NHS isn't as good as it used to be. I wasn't as well cared for as I was the first time."

Samantha Evans, 35, sales manager, Balmedie "I think the council tax is wrong. You shouldn't get charged on the value of your house, because you pay a big mortgage to have that value of house and it doesn't necessarily mean you have lots of money to pay the council tax."

Jennifer Malone, 20, Cardonald, Glasgow
"The NHS. I've recently had a baby and the first hospital I went to was filthy. The second was better, but they should all be the same."

Charlotte Knox, 18, Selkirk
"I am just beginning a university course but already I am worried about the level of debt I will have at the end of my three years of studying. I'm struggling to make ends meet. More has to be done to support people going into further education, or it will just lead to a brain drain."

Morag Young, 46, Cumbernauld
"Housing. There's not enough affordable housing for young people. It's hard for them to afford a mortgage when they're just starting out."

Agnes Shaw, 57, Pilton, Edinburgh
"I have always voted Labour - except with Maggie Thatcher the first time, because she was a woman. They have been good for older people, and I will be retiring soon."

It's something I feel very strongly about. We just shouldn't be there. I would have voted for the SNP, but I'm not for independence."

Brian Souter, 38, cinema manager, Hardgate, Aberdeen
"I haven't been taking as great an interest as I should, but I probably will vote - and I am definitely against independence."

Linda Harris, 45, Dunfermline
"Health is my number one issue, and public health particularly - things like smoking, obesity and diabetes. The environment and education are important issues to me, too."

Sean Frost, 49, Linlithgow
"What I want to know is where they are going to reduce spending, not what they are going to spend money on."

Pat Connelly, 48, Falkirk
"The Iraq war. It's time they brought our boys back home. I don't see it getting any better. But I'm also worried about Scotland going it alone. It will cost us much more than they say."

Grace Williamson, 78, New Town, Edinburgh
"Apart from the city of Edinburgh, the war in Iraq. I don't think it should have happened, and it's a mess."

Greg Gibson, 21, engineer, Selkirk
"The SNP have got a great chance of winning the Holyrood election but I am concerned that will be the first step towards independence. I don't think that would be the right way forward for the country, but once the bandwagon gets rolling it will be hard to stop. If the SNP win this seat, which has always been Liberal Democrat, I suspect they will end up the biggest party."

Monique Turner, 20, Liberton
"Global warming and making sure that everything is safe on that front. To be completely honest, I'm not really all for Scotland being independent, but then I don't want to vote for a Tory government either."

Ian MacDonald, 43, Galashiels
"Law and order is not just an issue for the cities. It is just as relevant in rural areas, where the police seem over-stretched and rarely visible. We need more police officers on the street to act as a deterrent to crime. Politicians keep promising that they are tough on crime but if they don't provide the resources then the buck has to stop with them."

David Falconer, 45, electrician, Hilton, Aberdeen
"I would like to see some sort of independence party in charge. It would be nice to see a change in policies."

Nicholas Jones, 25, New Town, Edinburgh "Council tax is a big issue at the moment. You can get a 75% discount if you're a single person, and I think it should only be 50%. Also, my partner is a student and there's a lot of hassle proving she's a student. The whole process of council tax is quite difficult."

Jo Donaldson, 23, Stockbridge, Edinburgh
"It is the first time I've ever voted SNP, because I just don't feel Labour in Scotland is really Scottish. They are controlled by London."

Joe Shaw, 35, Glasgow
"The Iraq war, education and the NHS. When Labour came to power, everyone had such high hopes - but look what happened. The country's in a mess."

Gemma Macdonald, 23, administrative assistant at Dounreay
"The issue on everyone's mind up here is life after the decommissioning of Dounreay is completed. What will we all do? It affects people of all ages in Caithness. I have been here five and a half years and I don't know what there would be for me here without Dounreay."

Dick Maynes, 65, island of Jura
"Transport is always a big issue for island communities, and we would love to see the Road Equivalent Tariff a system that ensures the cost of a ferry is no more expensive than a comparable journey on road, not so much for ourselves but for the cost of transporting good and services. It would make a huge difference to life here."

Jim Woodburn, 58, Shawlands, Glasgow
"The parties in general are the issue - the way they talk about each other rather than their own policies. With the exception of the SNP, who are going to do away with Trident. They're not getting my vote."

Aonghas MacDonald, 24, civil engineer, Portree
"I think the future of Gaelic remains a pressing issue. There has been a lot of work and investment in recent years but I am afraid the sad fact is that more is needed. We need to ensure that it not only survives, but grows."

Gill Robertson, 45, Livingston
"Housing, because they're building lots of houses but not building the schools to go with them, and that's always been a huge problem for us in Livingston."

Graham Brown, 40, labourer, Galashiels
"I want to see more done for young people in the Borders area. Too many have to move away because there are no decent jobs and the only ones available offer low wages. Young people are our future and have to be given some sort of chance."

Tina Koenig, 20, student, Peebles
"I am deeply concerned about the lack of affordable housing. It is impossible to get a foothold on the property ladder in Peebles as the prices have virtually doubled in recent times. It is a sad state of affairs when I have to consider moving away from the area just to find a job."

Andrew MacEwan, 32, Leith
"Environmental issues are important, especially recycling. We don't have facilities anywhere near our house. Other than that, I don't agree with the SNP with regards to independence. I think Scotland still needs to be part of the United Kingdom."

John Fisher, 71, Cumbernauld
"Crime is important, and anti-social behaviour. The whole country has a problem with that. And I hope they don't take the free travel away from us."

Finlay Mure, 23, Edinburgh
"I think independence is the future of our nation and an SNP victory is the biggest success we could have."

Mitchell Andrews, 44, Leith
"I would like to see less party politics between the small-timers at Holyrood who seem to spend more time defending their existence than improving our lives."

"I have always voted Labour - except with Maggie Thatcher the first time"

Says it all really.

I'd urge all Scots residents to view this poster before going into the ballot box today! Print version poster: http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/endlabourlies/ http://www.dont-vote-labour.co.uk/votesnp.jpg For emailing: http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/endlabourlies/small-poster/ Print the high-res version of the poster. View it. Pass it on. Print it. Hang it on windows and walls, especially near key seats! Email the lower-res poster to all and sundry! Family, friends, pets, strangers - go for it. You'll be helping Scotland address political dependency, poverty and warmongering. See through the labour lies and spin Scotland! SNP for a return to democracy...1, 2 and 3. Peace, sense and worth Scotland. x

I'd urge all Scots residents to view this poster before going into the ballot box today!

Print version poster:
http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/endlabourlies/
http://www.dont-vote-labour.co.uk/votesnp.jpg

For emailing:
http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/endlabourlies/small-poster/

Print the high-res version of the poster.

View it. Pass it on. Print it. Hang it on windows and walls, especially near key seats!

Email the lower-res poster to all and sundry! Family, friends, pets, strangers - go for it. You'll be helping Scotland address political dependency, poverty and warmongering.

See through the labour lies and spin Scotland! SNP for a return to democracy...1, 2 and 3.

Peace, sense and worth Scotland.

x

It will be interesting to see what people's views are on independence in 2010. I think a lot of people are scared as a result of the irrational fear tactics of the unionist parties and press - and I also suspect the quotes have been carefully selected. I am fairly sure that if the SNP get into power, support for independence, which currently seems to be about 53% if a direct and unbiased question is posed, will soar. Also as the older generation dies out, becuase they are the remnants of the "British" generation.

I believe devolution within the UK is in Scotland�s best economic interests. Devolution is working, perhaps not quite as we would like it yet, but it has resulted in solid economic progress... � Economic growth has been outstripping its long-term trend since 2003 � Scotland now has a higher employment rate than the UK average � Job earnings are rising faster than elsewhere in Britain � Disposable incomes are rising faster than any other part of the UK � Our standard of living (GVA per head) is now above the UK average � Population decline in Scotland has finally been reversed � Scottish per capita GDP has overtaken Germany, France, Italy and Japan � Child poverty is down an unprecedented 25% since 1999. The next steps on the economy and on education, health and crime are of course laid out in the manifestos. Any combination of Labour, Conservative or LibDem would in different ways be able to take those issues forward. But I firmly believe that voting for the SNP carries massive risk. Alex Salmond said on last night�s STV leaders debate that he has �plans A through Z�. I'm no fan of Salmond, but he�s nobody�s mug and you can bet that he has the path to independence clearly mapped out. One major stepping stone on that path is the set of crazy demands that the SNP said in its "First 100 Days" document that it will make of London. Losing a battle will be blamed on London and the inevitable resentment used to build the independence agenda. We�ve seen in this campaign how forthright the SNP�s PR machine has become. Salmond's spokesman has even said that resultant tensions would help fuel the clamour for independence. But the situation would also damage business confidence, put investment prospects at risk and endanger hard-won jobs. On independence itself, opinions obviously differ, but the vast majority of economists say that Scotland � like Wales, N.Ireland and most English regions � receives a net fiscal transfer from the Treasury, meaning that a newly independent country would have to raise taxes substantially and also cut public services to the bone. Who would want that? Certainly not me! I want a stable business environment, lower personal taxation and long term growth. Anyway, aside from sentimental considerations, there�s no potential benefit of independence that couldn�t be ours within Britain. If you agree and want to safeguard Scotland�s constitutional place within Britain, please consider giving your constituency vote to the strongest unionist candidate (Labour, LibDem or Tory) even if that�s not your party of choice, to see off the SNP challenge. Then you can give your regional vote to your preferred party to contribute to their overall share of MSPs. More info: http://scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com/opinion.cfm?id=660132007

I believe devolution within the UK is in Scotland�s best economic interests. Devolution is working, perhaps not quite as we would like it yet, but it has resulted in solid economic progress...

� Economic growth has been outstripping its long-term trend since 2003
� Scotland now has a higher employment rate than the UK average
� Job earnings are rising faster than elsewhere in Britain
� Disposable incomes are rising faster than any other part of the UK
� Our standard of living (GVA per head) is now above the UK average
� Population decline in Scotland has finally been reversed
� Scottish per capita GDP has overtaken Germany, France, Italy and Japan
� Child poverty is down an unprecedented 25% since 1999.

The next steps on the economy and on education, health and crime are of course laid out in the manifestos. Any combination of Labour, Conservative or LibDem would in different ways be able to take those issues forward.

But I firmly believe that voting for the SNP carries massive risk. Alex Salmond said on last night�s STV leaders debate that he has �plans A through Z�. I'm no fan of Salmond, but he�s nobody�s mug and you can bet that he has the path to independence clearly mapped out.

One major stepping stone on that path is the set of crazy demands that the SNP said in its "First 100 Days" document that it will make of London. Losing a battle will be blamed on London and the inevitable resentment used to build the independence agenda. We�ve seen in this campaign how forthright the SNP�s PR machine has become. Salmond's spokesman has even said that resultant tensions would help fuel the clamour for independence. But the situation would also damage business confidence, put investment prospects at risk and endanger hard-won jobs.

On independence itself, opinions obviously differ, but the vast majority of economists say that Scotland � like Wales, N.Ireland and most English regions � receives a net fiscal transfer from the Treasury, meaning that a newly independent country would have to raise taxes substantially and also cut public services to the bone.

Who would want that? Certainly not me! I want a stable business environment, lower personal taxation and long term growth. Anyway, aside from sentimental considerations, there�s no potential benefit of independence that couldn�t be ours within Britain.

If you agree and want to safeguard Scotland�s constitutional place within Britain, please consider giving your constituency vote to the strongest unionist candidate (Labour, LibDem or Tory) even if that�s not your party of choice, to see off the SNP challenge. Then you can give your regional vote to your preferred party to contribute to their overall share of MSPs.

More info: http://scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com/opinion.cfm?id=660132007

I am ashamed to be living in a country which once had an enlightenment and two centuries later it is not REASON and rational debate that will determine the election today, but FEAR PARANOIA MANIPULATION INSECURITY SCARE MONGERING AND PROPAGANDA of the most obnoxious sort - to deceive and run down Scottish confidence to keep it as an inferior part of a conglomeration that has ran its course. It is a huge insult to Scots that we are not able to run our own affairs - the only nation on the globe with the right to self determination but who really couldnt go it alone. The slave brainwashed into accepting his or her inadequate inferiority. Today's press headlines are a battering ram to scottish confidence as a nation. I knew McConnell as a student and was in the same labour club as him and Sheridan. I helped get Jack elected as a councillor. I once asked him what he really stood for. Reply "Me and me alone! That's what I stand for. Me!" I never forgot it. He is an unprincipled undemocratic charlatan who has no faith or trust in the people of Scotland. As a student he had to have deals done and votes counted before going into debate. That is, he had things fixed first. He does not have the intelligence or vision to be a First Minister. Scotland is a country now rotten with corruption and blatantly so, especially where Labour run the councils. Labour have lost their soul and their humanity. In the oligarchy of mediocrity and greed that poison our culture, McConnell epitomises the arrogance of a blundering fool whose principles were sold a long time ago. While the last ditch attempt of Unoinism may be enough to hem in the tide of SNP support, the river that is the awakening of Scotland will rise upon the sloth that tries to control, dam and **** it to continue as a colony controlled by Unionist mediocrity. Eventually. Where is the soul of Freedom fled? Like Andrew O'Hagan who has done so well snug in London's riches, our oligarchy of Labour sychophants are up to their necks in corruption, selling off the nation's heirlooms and family silver, bankrupt of ideas and rotten to the core. Once the chains are broken in the minds of career driven Labourites then we can rebuild Scotland from the chaos and rubble they have created.

I am ashamed to be living in a country which once had an enlightenment and two centuries later it is not REASON and rational debate that will determine the election today, but FEAR PARANOIA MANIPULATION INSECURITY SCARE MONGERING AND PROPAGANDA of the most obnoxious sort - to deceive and run down Scottish confidence to keep it as an inferior part of a conglomeration that has ran its course. It is a huge insult to Scots that we are not able to run our own affairs - the only nation on the globe with the right to self determination but who really couldnt go it alone. The slave brainwashed into accepting his or her inadequate inferiority. Today's press headlines are a battering ram to scottish confidence as a nation.

I knew McConnell as a student and was in the same labour club as him and Sheridan. I helped get Jack elected as a councillor. I once asked him what he really stood for. Reply "Me and me alone! That's what I stand for. Me!" I never forgot it. He is an unprincipled undemocratic charlatan who has no faith or trust in the people of Scotland. As a student he had to have deals done and votes counted before going into debate. That is, he had things fixed first. He does not have the intelligence or vision to be a First Minister.

Scotland is a country now rotten with corruption and blatantly so, especially where Labour run the councils. Labour have lost their soul and their humanity. In the oligarchy of mediocrity and greed that poison our culture, McConnell epitomises the arrogance of a blundering fool whose principles were sold a long time ago.

While the last ditch attempt of Unoinism may be enough to hem in the tide of SNP support, the river that is the awakening of Scotland will rise upon the sloth that tries to control, dam and **** it to continue as a colony controlled by Unionist mediocrity. Eventually.

Where is the soul of Freedom fled? Like Andrew O'Hagan who has done so well snug in London's riches, our oligarchy of Labour sychophants are up to their necks in corruption, selling off the nation's heirlooms and family silver, bankrupt of ideas and rotten to the core. Once the chains are broken in the minds of career driven Labourites then we can rebuild Scotland from the chaos and rubble they have created.

Be under no illusion. The Union is gasping its last. It will expire, hopefully at this election but if not it will be a slow and painful death. It is only a matter of time. Thank God. Can't come a day too soon!

You can do it Scotland - use the head and ponder how thoroughly useless the Lab/Lib pact has been:

Print version poster:
http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/endlabourlies/
http://www.dont-vote-labour.co.uk/votesnp.jpg

For emailing:
http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/endlabourlies/small-poster/

See through the labour lies and spin Scotland! SNP for a return to democracy...1, 2 and 3.

he just could not resist it! Smirking A.Salmond outside a TARTAN pub in Bannockburn. God give me strength. And people want to vote for this Braveheart loving loony!
Sorry, voters of the NE area I am standing in, can't be in my constituancy on polling day, got to go and pose in front of a pub near where Robert and William did the business.
You lot need to get into the 21st Century, you might have a country to run!

That Jack has to nick the idea of standing on a soap-box from the greyest of Prime Ministers - and a Tory at that, who presided over a sleazy rag-bag of ministers - merely confirms what we all knew - NuLabour in Scotland are completely devoid of creative thought as regards how to improve life in Scotland. And no, dear Herald, you haven't even touched on the issues that most matter to decent people in this country. For those interested in their own human rights, take a look at this link, because some of this legislation doesn't just pertain to autism alone:- http://www.autismrights.org.uk/BriefingPaperIndex.html

That Jack has to nick the idea of standing on a soap-box from the greyest of Prime Ministers - and a Tory at that, who presided over a sleazy rag-bag of ministers - merely confirms what we all knew - NuLabour in Scotland are completely devoid of creative thought as regards how to improve life in Scotland.

And no, dear Herald, you haven't even touched on the issues that most matter to decent people in this country. For those interested in their own human rights, take a look at this link, because some of this legislation doesn't just pertain to autism alone:-
http://www.autismrights.org.uk/BriefingPaperIndex.html

30 minutes left! Vote for fairness, peace and progress - vote for SNP! See through the likes of AM2 and co. See through Labour's lies. It's all about control for the bigger British state - *not* about Scotland's interests. Remember the Lab/Lib 'progress' - http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/endlabourlies/small-poster/ Don't be talked down to or patronised any more. End New Labour lies! Print version poster: http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/endlabourlies/ http://www.dont-vote-labour.co.uk/votesnp.jpg For emailing: http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/endlabourlies/small-poster/ Scotland's true worth: http://www.adamsmith.org/images/uploads/publications/Independent_Scotland_Riches.pdf http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/2/story.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=10360042 SNP - for true Scottish democracy in the 21st century. Vote 1, 2 and 3.

30 minutes left! Vote for fairness, peace and progress - vote for SNP!

See through the likes of AM2 and co. See through Labour's lies. It's all about control for the bigger British state - *not* about Scotland's interests.

Remember the Lab/Lib 'progress' - http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/endlabourlies/small-poster/

Don't be talked down to or patronised any more.

End New Labour lies!

Print version poster:
http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/endlabourlies/
http://www.dont-vote-labour.co.uk/votesnp.jpg

For emailing:
http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/endlabourlies/small-poster/

Scotland's true worth:

http://www.adamsmith.org/images/uploads/publications/Independent_Scotland_Riches.pdf

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/2/story.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=10360042

SNP - for true Scottish democracy in the 21st century. Vote 1, 2 and 3.

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