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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Alexander says 'fightback begins' | Alexander says 'fightback begins' |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| Scottish Labour leader Wendy Alexander has told party workers that they must help to expose the SNP. | Scottish Labour leader Wendy Alexander has told party workers that they must help to expose the SNP. |
| She added that the fightback had begun since last May's election defeat and that Labour, "the people's party", would be the "people's defence". | She added that the fightback had begun since last May's election defeat and that Labour, "the people's party", would be the "people's defence". |
| Ms Alexander was speaking on Saturday afternoon at Scottish Labour's spring gathering in Aviemore. | Ms Alexander was speaking on Saturday afternoon at Scottish Labour's spring gathering in Aviemore. |
| Speaking at her first conference as leader, she said: "I will lead by exposing the dishonesty of the SNP." | Speaking at her first conference as leader, she said: "I will lead by exposing the dishonesty of the SNP." |
| Ms Alexander also outlined several policy reforms, saying children needed better rights - while admitting the Scottish Parliament's flagship free personal care for the elderly was not enough to help old people. | Ms Alexander also outlined several policy reforms, saying children needed better rights - while admitting the Scottish Parliament's flagship free personal care for the elderly was not enough to help old people. |
| "I will lead by rebuilding Scottish Labour as a campaigning force," she told delegates. | "I will lead by rebuilding Scottish Labour as a campaigning force," she told delegates. |
| "And just in case anyone's in doubt - I will lead Labour back to power in the Scottish Parliament." | "And just in case anyone's in doubt - I will lead Labour back to power in the Scottish Parliament." |
| Ms Alexander mounted a personal attack on the First Minister Alex Salmond. | Ms Alexander mounted a personal attack on the First Minister Alex Salmond. |
| She accused the SNP of breaking promises made to voters, but made no mention of the row over expenses to her leadership campaign last year. | She accused the SNP of breaking promises made to voters, but made no mention of the row over expenses to her leadership campaign last year. |
| READ IN FULL class="" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/pdfs/31_03_08_wendyspeech.pdf">Wendy Alexander's speech to the Scottish Labour Party's spring conference [85KB] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader href="http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html">Download the reader here | |
| The MSP for Paisley North said that the SNP had "promised a freeze in the council tax without cutting services and cuts have been introduced already". | The MSP for Paisley North said that the SNP had "promised a freeze in the council tax without cutting services and cuts have been introduced already". |
| Ms Alexander thanked former Labour first minister Jack McConnell - who was not present at the conference - for his work. | Ms Alexander thanked former Labour first minister Jack McConnell - who was not present at the conference - for his work. |
| But she added that it was time for a new agenda which offered people in Scotland better life chances from the cradle to the grave. | But she added that it was time for a new agenda which offered people in Scotland better life chances from the cradle to the grave. |
| She pledged to make Scotland the first country in the world to eradicate illiteracy, while providing nursery places to every vulnerable two-year-old. | She pledged to make Scotland the first country in the world to eradicate illiteracy, while providing nursery places to every vulnerable two-year-old. |
| Apprenticeships, she promised, would be provided to every 16 to 18-year-old who wanted one, with subsidies for small businesses to run them. | Apprenticeships, she promised, would be provided to every 16 to 18-year-old who wanted one, with subsidies for small businesses to run them. |
| 'The crofter pays' | |
| The party would also look into personal care plans for those with chronic conditions, a new youth strategy and proposals to fight climate change. | The party would also look into personal care plans for those with chronic conditions, a new youth strategy and proposals to fight climate change. |
| Turning her attention to the SNP, Ms Alexander accused the party of pursuing populist policies in government which had led to spending cuts by Scottish councils. | Turning her attention to the SNP, Ms Alexander accused the party of pursuing populist policies in government which had led to spending cuts by Scottish councils. |
| Here at Aviemore, the fightback has begun. It's time to go to work Wendy AlexanderScottish Labour leader | |
| She dismissed its "national conversation" on Scotland's constitutional future as "an invitation for every flag-burning blogger to rant and rave". | She dismissed its "national conversation" on Scotland's constitutional future as "an invitation for every flag-burning blogger to rant and rave". |
| And she attacked the Holyrood government's plans to replace the council tax with a local income tax, telling the conference those living off unearned income would escape the charge. | And she attacked the Holyrood government's plans to replace the council tax with a local income tax, telling the conference those living off unearned income would escape the charge. |
| She said: "The landowner will not pay but the crofter will. Hotel owners won't pay but hotel workers will. Stock market speculators won't pay but student nurses will." | She said: "The landowner will not pay but the crofter will. Hotel owners won't pay but hotel workers will. Stock market speculators won't pay but student nurses will." |
| Ms Alexander also warned the conference that the party must modernise its campaign strategy, suggesting more party members be given a say in policy-making. | Ms Alexander also warned the conference that the party must modernise its campaign strategy, suggesting more party members be given a say in policy-making. |
| And she questioned the practice of some election candidates being chosen by "only a handful of activists". | And she questioned the practice of some election candidates being chosen by "only a handful of activists". |
| 'Ten out of 10' | 'Ten out of 10' |
| Ms Alexander told delegates there was still some way to go to help the vulnerable elderly live with dignity, adding: "It means admitting that delivering free personal care was not enough." | Ms Alexander told delegates there was still some way to go to help the vulnerable elderly live with dignity, adding: "It means admitting that delivering free personal care was not enough." |
| She went on: "Wherever possible, elderly people should be encouraged to stay in their own homes. | She went on: "Wherever possible, elderly people should be encouraged to stay in their own homes. |
| "It will mean more support for carers and better respite care. In care homes it means respect and dignity." | "It will mean more support for carers and better respite care. In care homes it means respect and dignity." |
| She concluded: "Here at Aviemore, the fightback has begun. It's time to go to work." | She concluded: "Here at Aviemore, the fightback has begun. It's time to go to work." |
| On Friday, the first day of the conference, Ms Alexander heard Prime Minister Gordon Brown praise her "brilliance and passion". | On Friday, the first day of the conference, Ms Alexander heard Prime Minister Gordon Brown praise her "brilliance and passion". |
| He said she would be the next first minister "whenever the next Holyrood election is called". | He said she would be the next first minister "whenever the next Holyrood election is called". |
| During a BBC Scotland news webcast, Ms Alexander scored herself "10 out of 10" for her performance as Scottish Labour leader. | During a BBC Scotland news webcast, Ms Alexander scored herself "10 out of 10" for her performance as Scottish Labour leader. |