Rennie issues ‘back me’ call to Yes supporters
SCOTTISH Lib Dem leader Willie Rennie is to make a direct appeal to those who voted Yes at the referendum to back his party at next year’s Scottish parliament election.
Mr Rennie, who will address the Lib Dem conference in Dunfermline today, said that some of those who back the SNP’s cause feel ‘let down’ by its record in government.
The Lib Dems, who hold five seats at Holyrood, will set out plans to boost services and support public sector workers.
The party faces a battle with Labour, the Conservatives and the greens for regional list seats in May, with polls predicting that the SNP will dominate the constituency vote.
Mr Rennie is expected to say: ‘My commitment to the United Kingdom remains as strong as ever. But I recognise that many l i beral- minded people have supported independence.
‘As a consequence, many then f elt compelled to back the Nationalists, even if they were unhappy about the performance of the SNP in government. I want them to know they now have another option.
‘I want to make a direct plea to supporters of i ndependence today – if you want to fix the problems facing your local GP surgery, i f you want to end industrial-scale stop and search on our streets, if you want to put the treatment of mental illhealth on an equal footing with physical health, if you want all these things, then try out the Liberal Democrats.
‘That is the choice. Five years for health. Five years for education. Five years for freedom and liberties with the Liberal Democrats. Or five years of another referendum campaign with the Nationalists.’
However, Nationalist MSP Joan McAlpine said: ‘ Willie Rennie has a cheek asking Yes supporters to back the Lib Dems after they spent so long scaremongering over independence.
‘If he can’t even get No voters to back the Lib Dems, why on earth would Yes voters ever offer their support?
‘ The meeting of the everdiminishing band of Lib Dems in Scotland is the perfect opportunity for a long-overdue apology for the party’s decision to abandon its principles and jump into bed with the Tories – and for their role in unleashing the austerity cuts hammering people across Scotland to this day.’
Patrick Harvie, co-convener of the Scottish greens, said: ‘Willie Rennie’s plea for his party’s survival will be laughed off by many people in Scotland.
‘We’ve seen the behaviour of the Lib Dems in government, signing off on the dismantling of the welfare state, savaging public services and signing up enthusiastically for the powergrab by big business in the EU-US trade negotiations.’
‘They now have another option’