Candidates campaigning hard for the General Election
NOMINATIONS for the East Dunbartonshire seat at the General Election closed on Tuesday with all four of the main parties eager to get out and make the most in the run up to election day — which is now just over two weeks away.
Jo Swinson, who is keenly aware Labour has its eye on the marginal constituency she has represented since winning it from them in 2005, said: "I have been out and about speaking to people and getting a very warm welcome from those I've met. The people I've spoken to appreciate my work over the past five years, but am aware this is a very marginal seat and Labour want to win it back. I will be working hard over the next couple of weeks so I can continue to represent the people in the constituency."
Labour candidate Mary Galbraith was joined on the campaign trail by deputy leader Harriet Harman in Milngavie on Saturday, the two of them meeting shoppers on a town centere walkabout.
Mrs Galbraith said: "Harriet has been a great asset to our campaign. She is really popular, so many people were more than willing to come and hear her. She is really down to earth and understands the issues that affect families in Bearsden and Milngavie."
She added: "Labour is the only party that is pledged to keeping child tax credits and the child trust fund. The Tories and the Liberal Democrats would both cut them and we can't let that happen.
"As a mother myself I understand the impact that the Liberal Democrats' cuts would have on most ordinary families if they ever got a chance to implement them."
The Conservative candidate Mark Nolan also said the response he's been getting on doorsteps was 'quite positive'. He urged people to vote for him saying their is no such thing as a 'wasted vote.'
He added: "We have been out and about leafleting and chatting to people in Milngavie and Bearsden and getting quite a positive response.
"People are concerned about the national debt and it is something we need to tackle now. We have had quite good support on this. In 2005 Annabel Goldie was the first to admit we were not at the races, but at this election it is only the Conservatives that can remove Labour at Westminster. There are huge numbers of undecided voters and I think they will vote Conservative.
And for the SNP Iain White reckons East Dunbartonshire could be a 'surprise win' for them.
He said: "I think there is a ground swell of support for us. We have had two Scottish cabinet ministers in the constituency, Nicola Sturgeon and Michael Russell and the campaign is going incredible well.
"The result in 2007 was a watershed for Scottish politics where nationally the SNP formed the Government and locally we became the largest group on the council.
"There are several things that are causing anger at the moment on the streets, such as how the media have treated the SNP in the Leadership Debate and the LibDems support for the rise in fuel duty. This is causing a rise in inflation. The message is starting to get through to people.
James Beeley from the UK Independence Party is also standing.
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Weather for Milngavie
Wednesday 23 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 11 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 13 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: East
