Liberal Democrats will reach out to SNP voters who want to see an alternative

Speaking ahead of a visit to East Dunbartonshire on Saturday, Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP has today laid out a series of positive proposals to earn the trust of ex-SNP voters dismayed by their party's recent chaos.  

Mr Cole-Hamilton will campaign on measures to support the NHS, repair roads and clean up rivers, as he emphasised that the party would champion the voices of local people.    

East Dunbartonshire is the most marginal seat in Scotland, with Scottish Liberal Democrats behind by just 149 votes. The party is also the main opposition to the SNP on East Dunbartonshire council.  

Mr Cole-Hamilton has set out proposals to address the top concerns in East Dunbartonshire:     

• A new NHS Recovery Plan with new proposals on mental health, primary care and social care, a burnout prevention strategy for staff, a health and social care staff assembly and an urgent inquiry into the hundreds of avoidable deaths linked to the emergency care crisis.  
• Repair roads as potholes have caused frustration and dangers for communities, drivers and cyclists.
• Accelerate measures to improve sewage monitoring and upgrade Scotland’s Victorian sewage system, after almost 19,000 Olympic swimming pools of sewage spilled into Scotland’s rivers and beaches last year alone. 

Mr Cole-Hamilton said:    

“When I’ve been out knocking on doors, I know that the people of East Dunbartonshire are horrified by the chaos engulfing the SNP and the disintegration of public services.

"That includes many former SNP voters. At the moment, these people are feeling politically homeless because they are not yet seeing a positive alternative.  

“I want to show them that Scottish Liberal Democrats will listen to the voices of local people and offer positive solutions.    

“Our candidate, Susan Murray, has already been campaigning tirelessly for a new Health & Care Centre for the residents of Milngavie & Bearsden, for tackling sewage spills in local parks and to fill potholes across the constituency.  

“It's community service like this which will help us to earn the trust of every voter, whether they've voted for the SNP, Conservatives or Liberal Democrats in the past.    

“From our record-breaking by-election wins to our big gains at the local elections, more and more people are seeing what’s possible when you elect a Liberal Democrat."