Candidates go head to head

Election candidates took part in a discussion on the economy and business as the campaign trail headed into its final stages.

STEP – Stirling’s business support agency – held a hustings on Friday which focused on what the area’s prospective MSPs think should be done to boost industry in the area.

With the Scottish Parliament elections taking place tomorrow (Thursday), the candidates were keen to stress the importance of business to Stirling.

The event was attended by Stirling MSP hopefuls Rebecca Bell (Labour), Bruce Crawford (SNP) and Elisabeth Wilson (Lib Dems), and Mid Scotland and Fife list candidates Mark Ruskell (Greens) and Alexander Stewart (Conservatives, who is also standing for the Clacks and Dunblane seat).

The speakers were given five minutes each to put forward their arguments, followed by a question and answer session which provided a passionate and sometimes heated debate.

Up first was Mr Ruskell, who said that the Greens’ plans to use the Parliament’s new taxation powers would help fund infrastructure, and in turn boost industry.

He said: “We want to use that income to invest in our society and invest to address the skills gap we have in Scotland. And also to invest in infrastructure we need.”

He highlighted the importance of companies like Natural Power and Superglass to Stirling and spoke about his party’s pledge to re-open the Stirling to Dunfermline trainline.

Conservative rival Mr Stewart said: “Business is without question the lifeblood of our economy.

“I spent the last 17 years as councillor and have a proven track record of working with the business community.”

Mr Stewart said that more had to be done to offer free parking to shoppers in town centres. And he said that the fear of a second independence referendum would create further disruption for those in business.

Lib Dem hopeful Dr Wilson spoke of a need to keep Scottish women in high-power jobs – and called for local areas to have more independence.

“We need to decentralise power,” she said. “There has been a centralisation since this government came in. There was Forth Valley board but that was scrapped and we need to get that back.”

Ms Bell said that she was standing as she wanted to make a difference, having worked in local government for 10 years. And she said that Labour would invest in education.

“Education needs to be delivering the skills that businesses want,” she said. “We need to make sure that we listen to business and that they get the people they want.”

She also highlighted the need to support female and social entrepreneurs – and the importance of safety at work.

Mr Crawford said his party would continue to invest in infrastructure. He said: “The SNP want to make sure Scotland is the best place in the UK to do business. I want to make sure Stirling and its wider rural economy is at the centre of this.”

He said that further changes to Public Procurement will mean SMEs can benefit from large public contracts, and that reducing air passenger duty will increase tourism.

All candidates also stressed the need for better access to superfast broadband in rural areas and were quizzed on how they would deliver this effectively. Other issues raised by members of the audience included whether a tourist tax would be implemented, how Scotland can boost the amount of money it earns and what can be done to help fill empty premises in town centres?