Carmichael welcomes Lib Dem manifesto launch

Scottish Liberal Democrat candidate for Orkney and Shetland, Alistair Carmichael, has today welcomed the launch of the Liberal Democrat election manifesto, which includes proposals for the UK to join the European Single Market, to reform the political system and boost green growth across the UK. The manifesto also includes policies to fund greater home insulation, to double the Warm Homes Discount and protect the triple lock for pensions, as well as taking up the offer of a Youth Mobility Scheme for people under 35 to live and work in the EU.

Mr Carmichael said:

“I am enormously proud to back my party’s manifesto today – one with bold ideas which will help families up and down the country and unlock our economic growth. 

“We have serious plans to boost green energy and jobs, as well as increasing home insulation and doubling the Warm Home Discount which will have a direct benefit to people in the isles. We are also helping struggling families by scrapping the two-child limit, and re-committing to the triple lock to protect pensions, which we pioneered in government.

“I am particularly pleased that we are the only major party with a credible plan to rebuild our relationship with our European allies. Rejoining the European Single Market is a practical, pragmatic step which will be a huge boost to businesses across the UK and indeed exporting businesses right here in the isles – as well as potentially lowering food price inflation by making trade with the EU easier.

“Our plans to take up the offer of a Youth Mobility Scheme with Europe represent a massive step forward. Young people deserve the freedom to live and work in the EU, and benefit from the advantages that freedom brings. Having been let down by the SNP’s failure to create an Erasmus replacement for Scotland, this will be a major gain.

“In modern politics it is not easy to let the world see behind the public figure, but Ed has captured attention in this campaign with his own personal story as a carer for his mother and his son – a story which I think resonates with many people across the UK. Proposals to bring in free personal care for elderly and disabled people in England are of course inspired by the Scottish Liberal Democrats delivering this in Holyrood in 2002 – and go to show the benefit of sharing policies between our national governments.

“We are also the only major party with a proper plan for political reform, so that people get fair representation which matches their votes. Ed Davey rightly hammered home the point that we need to see an end to centralisation in all corners of the country, because it is local people who know best what they need from their government. That is the plan that the Liberal Democrats offer to voters.”