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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| 'We are delivering Tory policies' | 'We are delivering Tory policies' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Conservative policies are being delivered in Scotland for the first time in more than a decade, Annabel Goldie has declared. | Conservative policies are being delivered in Scotland for the first time in more than a decade, Annabel Goldie has declared. |
| The Scottish Tory leader told her party's annual conference in Ayr it had led the debate on justice, education and culture. | The Scottish Tory leader told her party's annual conference in Ayr it had led the debate on justice, education and culture. |
| She said child neglect was an emerging new threat and one which was as "potentially corrosive" as drug abuse. | She said child neglect was an emerging new threat and one which was as "potentially corrosive" as drug abuse. |
| Miss Goldie also made a passionate defence of the Union. | Miss Goldie also made a passionate defence of the Union. |
| The Tories at Holyrood backed the budget of the SNP minority government, which was formed after last year's Scottish Parliament election. | The Tories at Holyrood backed the budget of the SNP minority government, which was formed after last year's Scottish Parliament election. |
| READ IN FULL Annabel Goldie's speech to the Scottish Conservative Party's 2008 conference [102KB] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader here | READ IN FULL Annabel Goldie's speech to the Scottish Conservative Party's 2008 conference [102KB] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader here |
| Miss Goldie said that the 16 Tory MSPs had had a remarkable record of achievement, telling delegates: "Whether it's abolishing bridge tolls, monitoring sex offenders, protecting rural schools or promoting tartan we have not just influenced that debate - we have led it." | Miss Goldie said that the 16 Tory MSPs had had a remarkable record of achievement, telling delegates: "Whether it's abolishing bridge tolls, monitoring sex offenders, protecting rural schools or promoting tartan we have not just influenced that debate - we have led it." |
| She said her party had won key budget concessions from the Scottish Government on more police, business rate cuts and a national drug strategy. | She said her party had won key budget concessions from the Scottish Government on more police, business rate cuts and a national drug strategy. |
| Miss Goldie went on: "That, is the reality of Scottish politics in 2008 - for the first time in 11 years Conservative policies were delivered here in Scotland." | Miss Goldie went on: "That, is the reality of Scottish politics in 2008 - for the first time in 11 years Conservative policies were delivered here in Scotland." |
| The MSP also warned that, over the last three years, the number of youngsters referred to the children's reporter after being failed by their parents had soared to nearly 19,000. | |
| 'Weep and wail' | |
| She told conference "There is a new threat emerging from the shadows. | |
| "A threat every bit as insidious and potentially corrosive as drugs abuse. | |
| "Too many parents don't or can't extend to their children the parenting skills so essential if young people are to have any hope of growing up with guidance, support and boundaries." | |
| "We cannot stand by without a longer term to deal with this new problem. We cannot hope it will resolve itself because it won't. | |
| "And we cannot in 10 years time weep and wail and gnash our teeth and wring our hands and say we should have done something about it." | |
| Labour MSPs and MPs are at each other's throats and this tormented and divided rabble would have us believe that it can be a credible champion for the Union - well it can't. Annabel GolideScottish Conservative leader | |
| Miss Goldie said the Scottish Conservatives would push forward its agenda to get tougher on crime, promote an enterprise-based economy and deliver better public services. | |
| "It may be old-fashioned, but I happen to believe in the enforcement of law and order," she said. | |
| Attacking the Scottish Government's policy to boost community sentences, she added: "There are challenges such as lack of prison capacity. Well, again, it may be old-fashioned but I believe in prisoners in prison - not convicts in the community." | |
| She said Holyrood ministers were also failing Scotland on education, saying headteachers should be allowed to decide what was best for pupils, not "buffeted from pillar to post by ministerial edict and bureaucratic directive". | |
| Swivelling her sights to Labour, Miss Goldie said the party had become battered and fragmented, with relations north and south of the Border worsening in the wake of Scottish leader Wendy Alexander's decision to back an independence referendum. | |
| "Labour MSPs and MPs are at each other's throats and this tormented and divided rabble would have us believe that it can be a credible champion for the Union - well it can't." | |
| The Tories, Miss Goldie argued, were now the only party able to defend the Union as she said UK Tory leader David Cameron understood Scotland and supported the need for devolution to work effectively. |