Dundee SNP

SNP Candidates Stewart Hosie and Jim Barrie today thanked the 26,066 voters in the Dundee East and Dundee West constituencies who voted SNP. The SNP gained 34.4% of the vote over the two constituencies and Stewart Hosie was re-elected with a majority increased five-fold.

Stewart Hosie said: “We want to thank all those who voted for us on Thursday and helped us to increase our vote across both constituencies.

“I am delighted to have been re-elected as MP for Dundee East, and I pledge to work hard for my constituents and for the city during the next term of Parliament to fulfil their trust in me.”

Jim Barrie said: “I thank all those electors who supported us. We put up a strong challenge to Labour in Dundee West. Clearly we lost out because the election was dominated to a great degree by the TV debates – from which we were excluded.

“It was therefore difficult for us to get our message heard. Labour managed to scare the voters that if they did not vote Labour they would get a Tory Government.

“Of course, it now looks like they will get a Tory Government anyway although the negotiations over the next few days will be interesting.

“What is certain is that Labour massively lost out in England while they scooped up anti-Tory votes in Scotland.

“Although we are disappointed we did not win in Dundee West, this is our best performance in a UK General Election since the 1970s.”

The final opinion poll of Scottish voters’ voting intention shows a strong surge in SNP support and all the other parties losing ground.

Announced today, the YouGov poll shows the SNP pulling away in clear second place in Scotland on 25 per cent – up seven points on the party’s 2005 Westminster result and the SNP’s highest YouGov rating since early March. Labour are on 37 per cent, the LibDems on 22 and the Tories 14. If the findings were repeated at the polls it would make the SNP the only party to increase its support on the last election, putting the party on track for its largest share of the vote in a Westminster contest in 36 years.

Stewart Hosie, SNP Candidate for Dundee East said: “This is a great sign that things are moving the SNP’s way. We are the only party whose ratings are going up on the eve-of-poll.  We are not taking any votes for granted however and will be campaigning hard for every single vote right up to the close of poll.”

Dundee West SNP Candidate Jim Barrie said: “Despite the TV boost they got by being on the Leaders’ Debates, Lib Dem support is now plummeting as voters see that they are the same as Labour and the Tories. All thre are losing support and it is only the SNP which has momentum. We are working hard to convince people that we are best-placed to fight the savage cuts agenda of the London parties.”

Stewart Hosie and JIm Barrie with Mecca Manager Paul McPhee backing the Bingo Bond which commits candidates, if elected, to continue the fight for a fair bingo tax.

In the final photocall of the General Election campaign, Dundee SNP Candidates Stewart Hosie and Jim Barrie yesterday met with the manager and customers at Mecca Bingo in the Nethergate.

The candidates were invited to the venue by the Bingo Association after the SNP had warned that the future of Scotland’s bingo clubs is at risk because of a tax hike hidden in Labour’s budget, which increased the rate of duty on bingo from 15% to 22%.

The SNP called for parity with other forms of gaming and betting, such as online bingo, sports betting and the football pools.

Dundee East candidate, Stewart Hosie, while an MP, moved an amendment to the Finance Bill on  the floor of the House of Commons to restore the pre-budget duty levels. The amendment was defeated when Labour MPs remained loyal to the Government.

Stewart Hosie said: “This tax hike on bingo clubs is unfair. Bingo is a highly popular social activity yet is paying 22% while duty on other forms of gambling including sports betting, casino and online poker and football pools will remain at 15%.

Jim Barrie added; “In scores of communities across Scotland, the bingo club is a vital part of the social fabric. It offers good quality, safe entertainment and social facilities providing fun, enjoyment and friendship for many people, particularly women.

“This Westminster tax-hike in the midst of the deepest recession for more than 60 years will affect many in Dundee and across Scotland.”

The SNP Candidates chatted to customers between games and joked that the SNP were looking for a ‘full house’ in Dundee by winning both city seats.

Alex Salmond made a return visit to Dundee yesterday as part of his rail whistlestop tour of key constituencies and met with Dundee Candidates Jim Barrie and Stewart Hosie in City Square. He called on voters to abandon Labour whose attempts to win a fourth term look increasingly unlikely – and come out to vote for SNP local and national champions who will help to protect their communities from the savage cuts agenda of the London parties. 

Alex Salmond, Stewart Hosie and Jim Barrie chat to voters at Boots' Corner.

Councillor Jim Barrie, SNP PPC for Dundee West today welcomed Dundee City Council’s plans for regeneration of the Highgate Centre shopping mall.

Jim Barrie said: “Dundee City Council and the Scottish Government have big plans for Lochee. Only a few months ago, the Scottish Government gave the community £2m to regenerate Lochee High Street, now the Scottish Government has given the Council funding to purchase the centre as part of redevelopment plans.

“I am particularly delighted that there will be a new open space within the development and that shopping and housing will remain at the heart of the new Lochee.

“I look forward to the plans taking shape. Both the Scottish Government and Dundee City Council should be congratulated for their commitment to the regeneration and improvement of Lochee.”

Scotland’s First Minister Alex Salmond answered a huge variety of questions from a packed audience at Discovery Point on Friday, in a special event hosted by actress and comedienne Elaine C Smith.

The public had been given the chance to quiz the First Minister in Dundee – and the venue was packed with some who had not booked being turned away as there were no seats remaining.

Stewart Hosie, the SNP Candidate for Dundee East introduced Elaine C Smith who provoked laughter when she said she preferred to describe the event as “more like ‘Engage Wi’ Eck’ than ‘Ask Alex’ and set the informal tone for the event. The questions from the audience ranged over political and social issues and the audience interaction at the event was in stark contrast to the TV Leaders’ Debates where the audience were not allowed to laugh or clap or  interact in any way.

Jim Barrie, the SNP Candidate for Dundee West, gave the vote of thanks at the end. The ‘Ask Alex’ events are also being held in a number of other venues across Scotland.

Jim Barrie being interviewed by Susan Nicolson of STV

Jim Barrie being interviewed by STV as part of their General Election Coverage. Jim has been kept very busy by the media durign the campaign and has been interviewed by numerous TV, radio and print media as the SNP Candidate fighting to win a marginal seat. Dundee West is second on the list of top targets for the SNP and Jim’s views have been widely sought by Scottish and UK media. 

Jim has been attending numerous hustings events and will attend two more on Thursday (29th). The first of these is at the High School of Dundee at 1.30pm and later the same day, at 7.30pm, he will attend a hustings at St Peters’ Church.  Then, on Friday (30th) Jim will have to move quickly from the DC Thomson hustings at the Apex Hotel which starts at 6pm to be on the panel with Alex Salmond in the “Ask Alex” event at Discovery Point at 7.30pm. This will be chaired by Elaine C Smith. Jim’s being kept busy as the SNP fight to win Dundee West!

Jim Barrie and Stewart Hosie in Dundee High Street

Dundee’s SNP Candidates Jim Barrie and Stewart Hosie were out and about again in the High Street today speaking to voters. Jim Barrie said: “We’re getting a great response from people who are scunnered with Westminster and the three London parties attempt to stitch-up the media by their so-called Leaders’ Debates which excludes Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.  While they’re in the TV studios, we’re getting out and about meeting the real people – and we’re getting a good response.”

Stewart Hosie said: “The choice in this election is clear; between the three London parties offering the same agenda of savage cuts – or a strong Scottish voice in Westminster to protect our communities and the vital public services which the SNP Scottish Government delivers. Speaking to voters today, it is clear that more and more are rejecting the Tweedledee, Tweedledum and Tweedledem of Labour, Conservative and Lib Dem and making the real choice – of the SNP.”

Dundee SNP Candidates Jim Barrie and Stewart Hosie had heavyweight support today when three Scottish Government Cabinet Secretaries were in town to lend their support. Deputy First Minister and Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon, Finance Secretary John Swinney and Education Secretary Mike Russell joined Dundee’s SNP constituency MSPs JOe FItzPatrick and Shona Robison today at the City Square.

Dundee West SNP Candidate Jim Barrie has written to Tory Leader David Cameron after it emerged that the recently published Conservative manifesto contains no mention of tax breaks for the computer games industry.

Joe FitzPatrick MSP for Dundee West has also written to the Tory Shadow Chancellor George Osborne and to Scottish Tory Leader Annabel Goldie.

 The Dundee politicians are concerned that in the event of a Tory victory on May 6, the Scottish industry will lose out.

 Jim Barrie said: “The games Industry has enjoyed significant growth over recent years and Mr Cameron will probably be aware that Dundee is a leading world centre for games development and training, however, due to tax breaks offered by other countries Dundee is now facing a competitive disadvantage.   

“I brought to his attention that a recent report by the games industry body TIGA, which I attached for his information, shows that unless a similar tax regime to Canada and France is introduced in the UK it could lead to the loss of 200 Jobs in Dundee over the next 5 years.

Commenting on their action, Joe Fitzpatrick said: “In contrast, offering tax relief on research and development activities for computer games companies could create 350 Graduate level Jobs and 45 million pounds of extra investment in Dundee over the next 5 years.

“The TIGA report also shows that the tax break would pay for itself, over five years the tax measure would cost 192 million but would deliver 415 million in tax receipts.

 “We have asked the Tories to reconsider their position and commit to introducing tax relief on research and development to support the computer games industry.”