UK MoD has Questions to Answer Over 'Embarrassing' Capability Gap

Commenting on today’s reports that an alleged Russian submarine was possibly operating in UK territorial waters off the Western Isles, SNP Westminster Leader and Defence Spokesperson Angus Robertson said:

“These worrying reports highlight once again the embarrassing capability gap which successive UK Governments have allowed to develop – despite its status as a maritime nation, the UK doesn't possess a single Maritime Patrol Aircraft which is the exact thing you need in this situation. They can’t confirm or deny the presence of Submarines because they simply do not know where they are.

“The MoD have a duty to ensure that Scotland’s coastline is properly protected and this goes to show that they are failing on every level as their cuts agenda continues to leave us exposed.

“Instead they'd rather spend £100bn on a new generation of Trident nuclear weapons while cutting conventional naval and other defence forces to the bone – which confirms that Westminster has its priorities entirely wrong when it comes to defence.”

SNP MP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar Angus MacNeil added:

“The capability gap in our naval forces the UK Government has presided over will be deeply worrying to people across Scotland – but particularly in our island and coastal communities. It’s vital that the MoD remedies this situation to ensure the safety of our coastline – rather than blowing billions on weapons of mass destruction.”

Plans to Keep Scots Lords Post-Independence "Speaks Volumes About Westminster Priorities"

YES VOTE WILL SAVE £50M A YEAR IN COSTS OF MPs AND PEERS
The Scottish National Party has slammed Westminster for failing on its priorities as it is revealed in a Huffington Post UK interview with Lib Dem peer Lord Wallace that plans have been made to keep unelected Scottish peers in the House of Lords post- independence.

Commenting, the SNP MP who uncovered the ‘cash for honours’ scandal, Angus MacNeil MP said:

“This is ridiculous and speaks volumes about Westminster priorities. The UK government failed to take the opportunity to give their plans for Scotland after a Yes or No vote as set out by Electoral Commission. The MOD won’t even look at alternative plans for Trident- yet there are plans to keep Scottish peers in the House of Lords!

“Under the Westminster system, we have the ludicrous situation that there are far more legislators who are appointed than elected - and people in Scotland elect only 4 per cent of the Westminster parliamentarians who hold powers over the economy, welfare, defence, our place in Europe, and many other crucial areas of policy.

“The UK parties nominating their own donors to the House of Lords is part and parcel of Westminster's crony culture - and the Lords is now the second biggest chamber in the world after the Chinese National People’s Congress, which governs a country of 1.3 billion!

“The SNP's long-standing position is that we believe those making laws should be elected by the people, and therefore we do not nominate members to the House of Lords.

“If the rest of the UK want to keep funding the unelected House of Lords, that is a matter for them. A Yes vote means that people in Scotland can get rid of the expensive and unrepresentative Westminster tier - saving around £50 million a year in not sending MPs and Peers to London- which means more cost effective and fairer government.”

Lord Wallace interview with the Huffington Post UK: http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/

SNP MSPs Ready to Vote Down UK Gov Sanctioned 3p Petrol Price Hike

PRESSURE BUILDING ON CHANCELLOR
Commenting on reports that Chancellor Osborne will come under pressure to drop a planned fuel duty rise, SNP Transport Spokesman Angus Brendan MacNeil outlined how the SNP will continue to stand up for the people of Scotland and oppose this tax hike in tomorrow’s Commons vote.

He said:

“The SNP are completely committed to opposing this price hike which will undoubtedly have a negative impact on jobs, growth and household budgets – particularly in rural Scotland.

“People in Scotland are fed up facing some of the highest fuel prices in Europe, and now the UK coalition government are complicit in a further hike of the price of petrol. It is a disgrace.

“At least 60 per cent of the price of petrol is disappearing down the Treasury black hole. The public realise the UK government are the biggest culprits in this highway robbery.

“We welcome Labour’s conversion on this issue – as for years they were the instrument for fuel tax hikes when they were in government.

“The SNP will continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with FairFuel UK and all who oppose this price hike. We have a proud record of halting the UK gov in their tracks on this issue.

“The Tory LibDem coalition cannot deflect all the blame for prices on to oil companies or suppliers when at least 60 per cent of the cost goes into government coffers. Action to cut the cost of fuel is within their hands.

“It is so blatantly obvious that energy rich Scotland should be choosing its own fuel tax rates.”

‘Unreformable’ Westminster Can't be Trusted on Constitutional Questions

Commenting on the announcement that plans for reform of the House of Lords are to be abandoned, SNP MP Angus MacNeil said the decision showed that Westminster was unreformable – and that, with the coalition making such a mess of constitutional reform at Westminster, they should stop interfering in the process of Scotland's constitutional future.

Angus MacNeil, the SNP MP who initiated the cash-for-honours inquiry, said the situation demonstrated that a ‘yes’ vote for independence was the best way to ensure a modern democracy for Scotland.

Mr MacNeil said:

“Nick Clegg’s announcement shows Westminster is unreformable and, with the coalition making such a mess of constitutional reform at Westminster, they should stop interfering in the process of Scotland's constitutional future.

"Indeed, this announcement raises questions over how people in Scotland can trust vague promises of more powers for the Scottish Parliament when the Westminster parties cannot even agree to reform the undemocratic House of Lords.

“This u-turn leaves Scotland with a legislature where we only have 4 per cent of the elected representatives and a majority are not even elected at all.

“The issue of reform of the House of Lords has been with us for well over 100 years and keeps coming back to the Commons, only to be kicked again and again into the long grass – and it is clear that a ‘yes’ vote for independence is the best way to ensure a modern democracy for Scotland.

“Scotland already has a modern, democratically representative Parliament at Holyrood, and it is there that all decisions which affect people in Scotland should be rightfully scrutinised.

“For parliament to carry out its purpose, it must act with democratic authority and integrity. The present House of Lords lacks of legitimacy because of its anachronistic and unrepresentative composition – yet 800 unelected peers still preside over policy impacting on Scotland.

“The constitutional change that is best for Scotland is to stop this discredited, undemocratic chamber having any say in the decisions which affect Scotland – and that will be done by voting yes in the independence referendum in 2014.”

Petrol Tax Heading for 60% of Price in UK

SNP CALLS FOR FUEL DUTY REGULATOR AND PLANNED 3P RISE TO BE SCRAPPED
The SNP called for the scrapping of the August 3 pence rise in fuel duty and the introduction of a fuel duty regulator after the latest figures released by the European Commission showed UK fuel tax was approaching 60 per cent of the cost of fuel.

The proportion of tax levied on fuel by the UK Treasury is the highest amongst all EU members at 58.6% for unleaded and 56.8% for diesel.

SNP Transport Spokesperson Angus MacNeil MP warned that soaring fuel prices were holding back economic recovery and called on the UK Government to recognise how its road fuel taxes are impacting on the transport industry, including bus services and fares, as well as hauliers and households.

Mr MacNeil said

“The UK Government needs to end this highway robbery that is choking back economic recovery.

“In July 2008, George Osborne launched plans for a ‘Fair Fuel Stabiliser’, describing it as a ‘common sense plan’. Instead of following common sense they have plans for a further 3 pence rise when we already face the highest fuel taxes in Europe.

“Excuses that it would be too difficult to introduce a regulatory mechanism are wearing thin. There is a momentum building across Europe for action on fuel. Germany has now become the third European country after Austria and Denmark to sign up to price regulation.

“The SNP is leading calls at Westminster for the 3p rise in duty to be scrapped. We will also be tabling amendments to the budget to bring in a fuel duty regulator.

“If Westminster will not act, the powers should be passed to the Scottish Parliament so that it can. If Scotland had control of fuel duty, the SNP government would introduce a fuel duty regulator to lower prices now."

Labour Challenged To Back SNP Fuel Action Amendment

AFTER 50P NO-SHOW LABOUR URGED TO PUT PEOPLE BEFORE TRIBAL POLITICS

WILL LABOUR BACK SNP OR LET TORIES OFF THE HOOK AGAIN?
Labour have been challenged to put people before tribal politics and support an SNP amendment to the Budget Bill which would deliver relief on soaring fuel prices.

Earlier this week, a tweet by Labour’s shadow Scotland office minister Willie Bain revealed that there “is a long-standing PLP convention that we do not support SNP motions”. The admission followed Labour’s failure to oppose a Tory tax cut for millionaires because the division had been called by the SNP and Plaid Cymru.

SNP Transport spokesperson at Westminster, Angus MacNeil MP, said the SNP amendment which would introduce a Fuel Duty Regulator, was now a key test for Labour.

Mr MacNeil said:

“Willie Bain’s astonishing admission is a sad reflection on where the Labour party has gone wrong, and goes some way to explaining his party’s drubbing in the Bradford West by-election.

“In the face of economic uncertainty and damaging Tory cuts, people want politicians to work together. Even when it came to voting against a Tory tax cut for millionaires, Labour could not put its knee-jerk negativity towards the SNP aside in the interests of ordinary working people.

“They abstained when the SNP opposed the Tories tax cut for millionaires last week. I would appeal to Labour to rise above the tribal politics of grudge and grievance and support our proposals for a fuel duty regulator which will deliver action on soaring fuel prices.

“We urgently need, not just a cut in duty, but the introduction of a fuel duty regulator to permanently bring prices under control. With the bulk of the pump price made up of tax, the Treasury must stop this highway robbery because soaring fuel prices are hindering economic recovery.

“In 2008, George Osborne launched plans for a ‘Fair Fuel Stabiliser’, describing it as a ‘common sense plan’. As well as being common sense, it is unanswerable and fair for Scotland, given that we pay among the highest fuel prices in Europe even as Scottish oil revenues surge into the UK Exchequer.

“With record North Sea oil and gas revenues flowing to the Treasury, we need to see stable fuel prices for ordinary people, hauliers and businesses through a fuel duty regulator.

“Labour should support the SNP’s proposal and put people before narrow politics. A failure to work constructively, as we saw in Bradford West, will rebound very badly on them.

“Whether Labour supports us or not, the SNP will oppose the Tories unfair Budget which punishes pensioners and public sector workers and does nothing to stimulate the economy. This was not a budget for Scotland and is proof of the urgent need for Scotland to have control over financial powers with independence.”