Row over ‘extraordinary’ claims in Lib Dem newspaper
The SNP has accused the Liberal Democrats of misleading voters in Edinburgh West, claiming plummeting poll ratings have ‘driven their opponents to a new low.’
With the general election now just two weeks away the SNP have challenged claims about the controversial Cammo planning application made in a Liberal Democrat newsletter.
An SNP spokesperson said: “Not content to openly ask Tory and Labour supporters to vote for them in order to stop the SNP candidate Michelle Thomson from winning Edinburgh West constituency, they are now trying to mislead and panic local residents over the housing application which has been referred to Cabinet Secretary Alex Neil for determination.
“The Liberal Democrat candidate Mike Crockart is quoted: ‘The SNP can’t run away from their record on Cammo. Their local councillors voted for the housing development. Only the Liberal Democrats can be trusted to work with residents to stop these plans going ahead.’ This statement is totally untrue. No councillors voted for the proposed housing development. The development was appealed by the developers on the grounds of non determination by the City of Edinburgh Council.
“The Liberal Democrats also ask three questions:
1. Why did the SNP put this in the hands of their housing minister Alex Neil from Airdrie, over our locally elected councillors? This is factually incorrect. No one from the SNP directed this to Alex Neil. The application was appealed on the grounds of non-determination by the Council and the legal pathway is being followed. The Council Planning committee was bypassed by the developers appeal.
2. Why has the SNP delayed the decision about Cammo until after the General Election? This is factually incorrect. The SNP have no part to play in this legal process: if the SNP were involved in trying to influence a live planning application this would be inapropriate and illegal. There is no date known as to when the determination will be made public.
3. Why did SNP councillors on the Council Planning Committee vote for the inclusion of housing at Cammo in the local development plan last year? This is factually incorrect. Councillors on the Planning Committee at last years meeting could not agree on a new local development plan which would have identified areas to be released for development. As a result, a fresh consultation on land available all over the city of Edinburgh was undertaken by the City Council of which Cammo was a part. It should be noted that no Liberal Democrat Councillor accepted a position on the Planning Committee and as a result have made absolutely no meaningful input into the planning deliberations.”
SNP MSP for Edinburgh Western Colin Keir said: “This is an extraordinary newspaper from the Liberal Democrats. It would appear that the blind panic caused by local polls which show the Liberal Democrats in freefall is clouding any good judgement they may have once had. They are now clearly misleading residents. While the SNP candidate Michelle Thomson has been following a positive agenda, the Liberal Democrats are suffering through a lack of trust because of their coalition with the Tories.”
Mr Keir added: “Mr Crockart has had all this explained to him. Cabinet Secretary Alex Neil even wrote to him some weeks ago explaining the process regarding the Cammo housing appeal, which is on record. Obviously Mr Crockart either doesn’t understand the process, or the lack of trust shown in polls to the Liberal Democrats is well founded as residents are clearly being misled.”
Edinburgh West was once a Conservative stronghold but the Lib-Dems have held the Westminster constituency – which covers a wide area from Drylaw and Muirhouse out to South Queensferry – since 1997. The SNP currently hold the equivalent Edinburgh Western seat in the Holyrood parliament.
Candidates contesting the Edinburgh West seat on 7 May are: Patricia Black (Greens), Mike Crockart (Lib Dems), Cammy Day (Labour), Otto Inglis (UKIP), Lindsay Paterson (Conservative) and Michelle Thomson (SNP).
