Parties back our Glasgow Times manifesto

We called for action on issues affecting the city that Westminster can help solve, including Universal Credit, jobs, wages, drugs and pensions.

We put the ten-point manifesto to the parties and asked then to sign up to action that would benefit the people of Glasgow and help solve long standing problems.

As the election campaign enters its final day, the SNP, Labour, Conservatives, Greens and Liberal Democrats all responded.

The First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, said it was a “manifesto for positive change” and Scottish Labour leader, Richard Leonard said is contained “bold clear sighted policies”.

The Conservatives addressed each of the points stating the party was acting on some, opposed some calls and agreed with others.

Patrick Harvie, Greens co leader, said Greens were: “Leading the way on many issues highlighted” and Willie Rennie LibDem leader, said the party had a plan “that would make the manifesto possible”.

Ms Sturgeon said: “Glasgow has suffered for nearly ten years at the hands of the Tories who have cut funding for vital public services - hitting the most vulnerable in our society hardest. In every area and every community of Glasgow, hard working families have been and pushed into poverty and spiralling debt after years of austerity.

“As the First Minister of Scotland, the leader of the SNP and the proud MSP for Glasgow Southside, I give my full backing to this manifesto for positive change. Scotland can’t afford five more years of Boris Johnson. Let’s make these pledges a reality by voting SNP on Thursday to lock the Tories out of power – putting Scotland’s future in Scotland’s hands.”

Mr Leonard, said: “This Manifesto for Glasgow is full of bold ideas and clear-sighted policies, many of which, it must be said, are contained in our Scottish Labour manifesto.

“I am proud to sign up to this manifesto which promotes the ideals of municipal socialism and co-operation that this city embodies and that we in the Labour Party seek to put into practice starting this Friday.”

On Universal Credit the Glasgow Conservatives said: “The UK Government have already provided advance payments so that claimants can receive a payment.”

The party added: “We support the call to invest in skills programmes and reduce economically inactive people” and backed opposing “any attempts to increase the state pension age to 75 as it has never been party policy”.

It also said: “We absolutely agree that Glasgow must have a fair system of housing and service provision for everyone in Glasgow.”

It was against drug consumption rooms but added: “Problem drugs users need help and support to kick their addiction”.

Mr Harvie said: “We have campaigned ever since for decisive action to cut emissions. Our MSPs continue to call for an end to universal credit and have secured commitments which will spare thousands of people from going through hated and unnecessary benefits assessments. Instead we’ve led calls for a universal basic income so that everyone can lead a dignified, secure life. And we have stood in solidarity with those let down by an asylum system which is callously designed to strip people of their dignity and rights. We have concluded that like so many UK institutions, the Home Office is now morally bankrupt, should be scrapped and rebuilt around principles of fairness and respect.”

Mr Rennie said: “Liberal Democrats have a plan for the future that makes the Glasgow Manifesto possible.

That plan begins with Stopping Brexit. We know that any which way we leave the EU, our economy and our country will be worse off. By staying in the EU we would generate a £50 billion Remain Bonus, meaning we can spend our time and our money on the policies that can make a real difference to people’s lives.

That means we can make urgent reforms to our welfare system, after the £12 billion of ideologically driven Tory funding cuts, end the five week wait for benefits and work towards setting a genuine Living Wage.”

The responses in full can be viewed at www.glasgowtimes.co.uk