Alistair Carmichael MP: Lib Dems Only Progressive Alternative to Labour

6.47.00pm GMT Wed 10th Mar 2010

Speaking in Perth at his party’s spring conference last weekend, Orkney and Shetland MP Alistair Carmichael told delegates that only the Liberal Democrats offer a genuine progressive alternative to Labour in Scotland.

Mr Carmichael is Scottish Affairs Spokesman for the Liberal Democrats at Westminster. During the election campaign he will be participating in a series of televised debates with the Secretary of State for Scotland and representatives of the other major parties.

During his speech, Mr Carmichael said:

‘After 13 years of Labour letting Scotland down – betraying the radical and progressive values of fairness, freedom and democracy which used to be part of their heritage – Scotland is ready for a change.

‘You may have noticed recently Jim Murphy, the Secretary of State for Scotland, making a speech about Labour being the party of faith. He probably settled on faith because they have given up hope and were never any good at charity.

‘And what has this party of faith done thirteen years of government? They sent British troops to die in an illegal war in Iraq. They have signed up to the renewal of Trident nuclear submarines. They have locked up the children of asylum seekers in Dungavel - all for the sake of administrative convenience. No thought for the best interests of the child.

‘This government of “faith” is still determined to send a man suffering from Asperger’s Syndrome to face trial and imprisonment in the United States of America. If ever you are challenged on a doorstep to produce evidence of New Labour’s betrayal of its core values and its failure as a government then you can answer that challenge with two words - Gary MacKinnon.

'If it is the first duty of governments to protect their own citizens then this government has failed in its duty to Gary MacKinnon in a truly shameful manner.

‘At this election, the Tories will not challenge Labour in Scotland. The SNP will not challenge Labour at Westminster. Only the Liberal Democrats will do both.’