Vote Scottish Liberal Democrat today!

Today is polling day in the General Election.

At the heart of the Scottish Liberal Democrat manifesto is a £500 million rescue package for care, enabling people to be released from hospital, relieving pressure on the NHS and giving a fair deal to family carers.

We will :

Create a new Carer's Minimum Wage, boosting the minimum wage for care workers by £2 an hour;

Give unpaid carers a fair deal, lifting Carer's Allowance/Carer Support Payment by £1,040 a year and removing the earnings cliff-edge.

The party's plans will also:

Establish the world-class mental health services Scotland needs, meaning every school pupil has fast access to a mental health counsellor, new mental health staff working alongside GPs and A&Es, and extra help for businesses, backed by £150m from taxing social media companies;

Deliver £170m more for Scottish agriculture;

Generate an extra £1 billion in capital funding for Scotland which the party say could be used to build new local health facilities, tackle the housing emergency, end the scandal of crumbling concrete in public buildings, and stop sewage dumping.

Make homes warmer and cheaper to heat with a ten-year emergency upgrade programme, starting with free insulation and heat pumps for those on low incomes.

Alex said :

"Every vote for the Liberal Democrats at this election is a vote to elect a strong local champion focused on getting you fast access to GPs and dentists, and giving our nation's carers a fair deal.

"We will stop sewage being dumped in our rivers, lift up Scottish education, and deliver warm homes that insulate you from the cost of living crisis.

"Our vision is of a better Britain where we work in partnership, restoring your faith in politics and fixing our broken relationship with Europe.

"Just like they Conservatives, the SNP have got to go. Only the Scottish Liberal Democrats can beat the nationalists in huge swathes of Scotland.

"Hope and change are just around the corner, you only need to vote for them. Back the Liberal Democrats for a fair deal for you, your family, and for Scotland."

The Scottish Liberal Democrat candidate in our Dundee Central constituency is Councillor Daniel Coleman - please support Daniel today.

Congratulations card!

The Dundee Liberal Democrat councillors would like to thank our good friends Lewis and Wings for the super congratulations card they sent us!

Many thanks!

The results of yesterday's Dundee City Council election will be known later today.

Dundee Liberal Democrat candidates would sincerely like to thank everyone for their support yesterday and for their warm welcome on the doorsteps.

We are very grateful to residents and also to our many volunteers who helped the campaign.

We will continue to work hard for everyone in the city and do our best for all local residents we represent on Dundee City Council - thanks again!

Vote Scottish Liberal Democrat today!

Willie Rennie and the Scottish Liberal Democrats have run a positive campaign in the Scottish Parliamentary election, putting recovery first.

Please support Daniel Coleman, Scottish Liberal Democrat, today for Dundee City West on the lilac coloured ballot paper and the Scottish Liberal Democrats on the peach coloured ballot paper for North East Scotland.

My many thanks!

Vote Coleman, Scottish Liberal Democrat, for Dundee City West today!

Willie Rennie and I are supporting Daniel Coleman for Dundee City West - for a hard-working MP for the West End and right across the constituency :

Vote Coleman, Scottish Liberal Democrat, for Dundee West today!

I'm supporting Daniel Coleman for Dundee West - for a hard-working MP for 

the West End and right across the constituency :

Liberal Democrats choose Dundee West candidate

Announcement from the Dundee Liberal Democrat website today :

Dundee Liberal Democrats have announced that well-known Dundee law student, McManus 2013 Citizen of the Year and Dundee football referee, Daniel Coleman has been selected as Scottish Liberal Democrat candidate for Dundee West in advance of next year's Westminster General Election.

Daniel has been Chair of the Dundee Youth Council, a former Deputy Head Boy at St Paul's RC Academy and student at the University of Dundee, and has represented the city as a Member of the Scottish Youth Parliament.

Following the announcement of his selection as the LibDem candidate Daniel said:

“I am delighted and privileged to be selected as the LibDem Dundee West Candidate in the 2015 General Election. I am thoroughly looking forward to taking part in the political process and engaging with the people of Dundee West. It is essential we maintain political interest after the referendum and I am determined to work hard for everyone across the constituency.”

Born in St Mary's and was educated at Hillside Primary School, Lawside RC Academy, St Paul's RC Academy and currently the University of Dundee, Daniel is determined to bring in a new, fresh and vibrant face to politics in Dundee.

On leaving secondary school, Daniel became the sole Scottish representative on the British Youth Select Committee at Westminster on Education issues, where he took his experience of the Curriculum for Excellence to discuss issues with a wide UK audience.

In 2011, he was elected to the Scottish Youth Parliament to represent Dundee West and then resoundingly re-elected in 2013. In that time Daniel tirelessly campaigned on behalf of the young people, representing and taking forward their views and concerns. Furthermore, in March 2013, Daniel became Chair of the Dundee Youth Council, serving 18 months making him the longest chair to date. Daniel qualified as a SFA Football Referee in 2011 and has officiated in four cup finals and a Youth Scottish Cup Semi Final.

Daniel has been actively campaigning for the Scottish Liberal Democrats across Dundee West.     Liberal Democrat councillor for Dundee’s West End, Cllr Fraser Macpherson, added,

“Daniel will be one of the Liberal Democrats’ youngest candidates at next year’s General Election but he already has a wide range of experience and will bring a fresh of fresh air and much enthusiasm to the General Election campaign in Dundee West. I am delighted that our members in Dundee have chosen Daniel to be our parliamentary candidate in Dundee West and will be working with him and the LibDem Dundee team in the run-up to May 2015.”

A photo of Daniel with Willie Rennie, leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats, and Cllr Fraser Macpherson at the Tay Rail Bridge is below :

www.dundeewestend.scot!

Now that Scotland has its own internet domain - .scot - you can now access this site at www.dundeewestend.scot.   The original www.dundeewestend.com still works and the blog's mirror site is still accessible at www.westendblog.org.uk.

The Dundee Liberal Democrat website is now also available via www.dundeelibdems.scot - again its original www.dundeelibdems.org.uk still works too! 

Willie Rennie - Today Scotland is stronger #LibDemNo #nothanks

Speaking after the result of the referendum became clear, leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats Willie Rennie MSP said,

"Today Scotland is stronger.

"Scotland has made. Proud and conscientious choice.

"The people of Scotland have examined our relationship with the people of the rest of the United Kingdom and have decided no to walk away.

"Scotland will never be the same again.

"And as a result of Scottish votes, Britain will never be the same again.

"These are exciting times. This No vote means we can get on with delivering more powers inside the UK this morning."

Today, I am supporting the positive case for Scotland remaining part of the UK #LibDemNo #nothanks

Working for Scotland - in the United Kingdom #LibDemNo #nothanks

Just in from a final day's campaigning before polling day - the momentum is with #nothanks, of that I have no doubt :

Campaigning to keep Scotland in the United Kingdom #LibDemNo #nothanks

Just in from a great day campaigning to keep Scotland in the United Kingdom :

Campaigning for "No Thanks!" today #LibDemNo #nothanks

Along with colleagues, I was campaigning for a "No Thanks!" vote in Broughty Ferry today - great response!   Photo below :

Dundee Liberal Democrats' Summer BBQ @DundeeLibDems

This afternoon saw the Dundee Liberal Democrats' Summer BBQ take place, with grateful thanks to Penka and Iliyan Stefanov for hosting in their lovely garden!

It was a lovely afternoon and excellent food, drink and conversation.   Here's some photographs from the BBQ :

Summer BBQ

Cllr Willie Wilson from Perth, Alison McInnes MSP, Cllr Tim Brett
from NE Fife and Craig Duncan, Dundee LibDem Convener

Penka and Iliyan Stefanov

Willie Rennie's Dundee visit today @willie_rennie

I was delighted, along with Dundee LibDem colleagues, to welcome Willie Rennie MSP, Leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats, to Dundee today.

As well as media interviews and a walkabout in the West End, we also did door-knocking and speaking with local residents in Broughty Ferry.

Here's some photographs from today :

With Willie and local party secretary Daniel Coleman at Riverside

Willie at Wave 102 Studios

Outside Dundee Contemporary Arts in Nethergate

LibDem campaigning in Leven!

Along with my Dundee local party Convener Craig Duncan, Scottish Liberal Democrat Leader Willie Rennie MSP and Tim Brett and his North East Fife LibDem team, I had a very enjoyable evening campaigning in a lovely, sunny Leven - a couple of photos below :

With Tim, Willie and Team in Leven

Willie, Craig and me - campaigning for a stronger Scotland after Scotland rejects independence

The Independence Debate

No ... not that one!     Earlier today, Cllr Jimmy Black, arguing the case for "Yes" in the referendum campaign and I - arguing the "No" case - participated in a debate at Sinderins Court for the residents of both Pennycook Court and Sinderins Court.

Chaired by Tina Bell of Home Scotland, I think all agreed it was a good natured, polite and positive discussion and a thoroughly wothwhile event.

Later on, along with my Dundee LibDem local party Convener Craig Duncan, I was campaigning for our good friend Cllr Tim Brett, in Newport on Tay.    

Tim has been selected as the Liberal Democrat candidate in North East Fife, replacing Sir Menzies Campbell, who has been the constituency's highly respected MP for the past 27 years.   

We had a great response on the doorsteps, reflecting Tim's hard work in the area.    Here's a photograph of some of the team from tonight:

.@scotlibdems are the only party fighting to keep Scotland in Britain and in the #EU #whyiamIN

I'm supporting George Lyon MEP today!

.@scotlibdems - the only party fighting to keep Scotland in Britain and in the #EU #whyiamIN

Dundee LibDems have been campaigning across the city for George Lyon, Scotland's hard-working Liberal Democrat MEP.    Today we were campaigning across the West End and Strathmartine areas.

Here's three of my colleagues, Daniel, Kat and Craig, in the Downfield area this afternoon:

In Britain, in Europe, in work @scotlibdems @georgelyonmep

Last night's Scottish Liberal Democrat European Election broadcast: