Scottish Conservatives

Taylor Muir (Scottish Conservatives)

1. Rutherglen and Cambuslang move to become part of NHS Lanarkshire has proved controversial. What will your party do to protect vital NHS services and keep them in the area?

The Conservatives have pledged to put an extra £8 billion a year into the NHS across the whole UK. That equates to more than £800 million for Scotland, which would help services all over the country, including here in our local community. The Conservatives, throughout the last five years, have invested £13 billion into the NHS, which equates to over £1 billion for Scotland’s NHS. That money has come up to Scotland, but the SNP has not always passed it onto the health services. They have to explain why that is the case.

2. There is a severe lack of social and affordable housing in Rutherglen and Cambuslang, how will your party tackle this?

As we saw from the UK launch of the Conservative manifesto, we are committed to extending the right to buy so people in social housing can have the same opportunity that thousands of council tenants in Scotland did to own their own home. Unfortunately, the SNP – backed by Labour – have ended right to buy in Scotland, making it impossible for people in social housing the opportunity to make their home their own. We will continue to extend the opportunity for tenants to achieve the dream of owning their own home and push for it’s reintroduction on Scotland.

3. What can you and your party do to keep jobs in Rutherglen and Cambuslang and encourage inward investment?

It’s clear over the last five years, and over the course of this campaign, that the Conservatives are the only party serious about growth, jobs and the economy. We’ve already created an extra 175,000 jobs in Scotland since 2010, while thousands of new businesses have also been created. People in our local community are able to build a better life for themselves and their family because of our economic plan. That has been made possible by the pro-business environment created by the Conservative party. In contrast, the anti-business Labour propped up by the SNP would only threaten that progress.

4. Many people in Rutherglen and Cambuslang are struggling in low paid jobs or on zero hour contracts. Isn’t the fact that the number of people on Jobseekers Allowance is declining just masking a cost of living crisis in the area?

Of course the job isn’t done yet, but the progress on jobs and the economy is undeniable. Since 2010, unemployment has fallen by more than 60,000. That’s people off Jobseeker’s allowance and back into work, building a better life for themselves and contributing to the economy. In addition, the Conservatives have already lifted thousands of low paid workers out of taxation, and have pledged to do even more if re-elected in 2015. We have said that no-one on the minimum wage will pay any income tax and everyone else will pay no tax on earnings up to £12,500 a year.

5. What three people, either living or dead, would you invite to a dinner party?

I would invite two sporting people and a political one. My first sporting personality would have to be Sir Alex Ferguson. His winning mentality and ability to use psychology to motivate other human beings is something that all politicians could learn from. I would also invite Barack Obama. His presidency might not have been outstanding but the campaign he ran to become President in 2008 was exceptional. I’d also invite Mo Farah. His story is quite incredible and he sums up what’s great about our country, he’s not a bad runner either!