Montrose Academy held a mock election on Friday, run magnificently by Ian Watt. It was great to see Sean Massie, the Liberal Democrat candidate win the mock election. Congratulation to Sean and his class who ran an excellent campaign. I’ve had to ask Sean for a copy of his stump speech, as it included some key points I hope to use.

I really appreciated being invited to attend a hustings after the vote, between the Angus parliamentary candidates. During the discussion, Angus SNP candidate, Mike Weir admitted that there are three parties whose candidate could be elected, saying:

Whoever gets elected whether it is the SNP, the Tories or the Lib Dems,…

Conspicuously absent was any mention of the Labour candidate, Kevin Hutchens. Clearly, Mike has recognised that people in Angus are looking at all the main options available to them.

The national campaign shows this will not be just a once in a lifetime election. It will be a unique opportunity to sweep away the two old parties’ grip on power. They have and will do anything to stop things really changing.

It is no longer a two horse race nationally, nor is it here in Angus. Residents do not have to pick the least worst option.

When choosing between myself, Mike Weir and Alberto Costa, Angus residents now realise that by voting for the Scottish Liberal Democrats, by voting for me, Sanjay Samani, their vote will count and their voice will be heard.

2010, Alberto Costa, Angus, General Election, Mike Weir, SNP, Tory

During this recession, many people across Angus will be feeling the pinch, working fewer hours or with reduced pay, whilst still having to meet rising food and petrol costs. With huge bonuses for bankers and tax dodging millionaires donating to political parties, most voters must be wondering whether politicians will deal with this unfairness.

The Liberal Democrats have long campaigned for a fairer tax system. We promise that if you earn less than £10,000 you will pay nothing, zero, £0 in income tax. If you earn more that that, you will pay £705 less.

So if you earn, say £8,000, you will pay no income tax, saving you £305 per year, an extra £25 per month. If you earn, £17,000, you will save £705. That’s almost £59 per month extra in your pay packet, to help you pay for your shopping, put towards your holiday or buy that special treat for your kids.

We will pay for this by cutting special tax breaks that only the wealthiest can use.

Pensioners will save £100 a year, which combined with relinking pensions with earnings, will help the most vulnerable in our society.

We will invest £3.1bn to create 100,000 green jobs, including £400m to refurbish harbours to manufacture offshore wind turbines. As your MP, I would fight for that investment to come to Montrose, creating jobs across all of Angus. We will pay young people on apprenticeships, so small companies can take them on.

That’s fairness for you, but what about the way MPs have behaved with our money?

The ugly SNP / Tory expenses and donations spat in Angus makes clear that we need a complete overhaul of our political systems. Labour and the Tories propose a tweak here and there, but after 20 years of scandal after scandal, it is clear we need genuine democracy.

The Liberal Democrats would cap donations and limit spending by political parties and introduce independent audits of expenses. We would create a register of political lobbying, a Lib Dem proposal that Mike Weir voted against in 2006. Crucially, you would have the right to sack corrupt MPs.

The UK needs a written constitution that sets out exactly what MPs can and cannot do and defines the roles of judges, ministers, the Head of State, parliament and national assemblies.

We would introduce a fairer, proportional voting system so your voice is heard. Mike Weir was elected with just 1 out of every 5 of the possible votes. A full 2/3rds of voters, voted against him. Surely Angus deserves an MP with a better mandate than that?

During this General Election in Angus, the Liberal Democrats are the only party that will bring genuine fairness back to our economy and our politics.

2010, Angus, Fairness, General Election

Having met Sandra Affleck, Chair of Kirriemuir Heritage Trust, I am looking forward to next year’s celebration of the life and work of Kirriemuir’s own J M Barrie.

It was an enormous pleasure to talk to Sandra and discuss her experience with organising the Barrie Celebration. We discussed the need for more tourist accommodation, proposals for developing Kirriemuir Hill, Kirriemuir residents’ modesty about their heritage and the opportunities for celebrating the town’s illustrious past.

I am looking forward to a varied fortnight of events to be held from 7th May next year, and I hope that people from all over Angus, and Barrie’s fans from around the world will join Kirriemuir residents in celebrating his contribution. You can find out more about the celebrations on the Kirriemuir Heritage Website, by clicking here.

I am also backing proposals by Angus Council to enhance Kirriemuir Hill in time for 2010’s celebration of J M Barrie’s 150th birthday. The proposals not only celebrate J M Barrie, but also take advantage of this anniversary to improve facilities on the hill for all Kirriemuir residents.

During my visit to Kirriemuir, I also took the opportunity to visit the Gateway to the Glens Museum, the plaques celebrating J M Barrie, Charles Lyell, Bon Scott, Sir Hugh Munro and recipients of the Victoria Cross, along with a tour of local shops and places of interest.

2010, Angus, J M Barrie, Kirriemuir

Dear Sir,

I was very honoured that the Angus Liberal Democrats selected me as the their Prospective Parliamentary Candidate last night. I will be proud to represent them in the forthcoming Westminster General Election.

I am looking forward to hearing from Angus residents about their concerns, campaigning on local issues on their behalf and championing Angus at Westminster.

I believe in strong communities and am secretary of Alyth Community Council and chair of the “Alyth 2020″ committee, consulting residents about the future of their town and how to make best use of a £2.5 million development fund.

If elected, I would be independent minded, responsive to residents’ concerns and will get to the heart of issues quickly. I will always stand up for what I believe is best for Angus residents and businesses.

I will campaign against huge government waste on projects such as the NHS IT programme, which will be 4 years late and a staggering £8 Billion over budget. I will promote children’s welfare, say “No to ID Cards” and support small businesses stifled by red tape and tax rises.

I believe the Angus deserves an MP from a party that offers a genuine change of direction. One that understands how to get us out of recession, is free of the scandal of second home flipping and tax avoidance and has real influence in Westminster.

The Liberal Democrats have won justice for the Gurkhas, presented a fair tax plan that will get us out of recession, bucked 400 years of tradition in calling on the Speaker to resign and launched the debate on our mission in Afghanistan. The Liberal Democrats are the only party that can make a difference at Westminster, on behalf of the people of Angus.

Sanjay Samani
Liberal Democrat PPC for Angus
contact@sanjaysamani.com

2010, Angus, General Election, PPC, Westminster

PRESS RELEASE

Angus Liberal Democrats adopted Sanjay Samani in Arbroath on Monday as their prospective parliamentary candidate for the Westminster General Election.

Cllr David May commented “I am delighted that we have adopted Sanjay as he has an excellent record of local campaigning and will be a first class MP who will work hard for all the people in Angus”

Sanjay is married to a Fife girl and has a 3 year old son. He lives in Alyth, where he is Secretary of the Community Council and Chairman of the “Alyth 2020″ committee, consulting residents about the future of their town and how to make best use of a £2.5 million development fund.

A believer in strong local communities, Sanjay gets involved whenever he can, whether on Alyth Community Council, as Chair of Alyth 2020, parading at the local Gala day or demanding local produce in local shops.

Sanjay is independent minded, responsive to others and gets to the heart of issues quickly.  He is always willing to stand up for what he believes in.  Working hard for his community and business customers he has promoted innovative, unconventional solutions at work; blogged for customer rights and championed residents’ concerns with the Council.  

His political goals are to eliminate Government waste, improve children’s welfare and tackle environmental damage. He has campaigned hard on huge budget overruns in the NHS IT system, and called for scrapping expensive projects doomed to failure, such as the National ID scheme.

As a small business owner himself, he is fully aware of the pressures they face when stifled by red tape and tax increases by a government hostile to small businesses.

Having worked in the high pressure environment of the City, Sanjay will comfortably manage the demands of being an MP. As a Project Manager, overseeing multi-million pound budgets, he needed to motivate colleagues, ease tensions and handle constantly changing and conflicting requirements. His time in the City has given him a rare insight into the current recession.

2010, Angus, General Election, PPC, Westminster