Bright Future - A Vision for Scotland - and here in Dundee.
The Scottish Liberal Democrats have today (Friday 6th October) published their pre-manifesto document entitled, 'Bright Future'. Dundee Liberal Democrats have welcomed its publication, calling the pre-manifesto "positive, radical and dynamic."
The document sets out the positive vision of Scottish LibDem Leader Nicol Stephen MSP for Scotland and is a clear statement of his intent to fight the next election to become Scotland's First Minister.
The pre-manifesto sets out the approach that Scottish Liberal Democrats will take to the Scottish Parliament election next May. Nicol Stephen will focus his party's message on being pro environment, pro young people, and pro enterprise.
Nicol said, "If elected as First Minister I will ensure that the Scottish Liberal Democrats will offer a radical, reforming and responsible approach. We will bring forward new and innovative ideas to make the green switch, to deliver new opportunities for young people and to create a dynamic Scotland.
"It has been a very good year for the Scottish Liberal Democrats. Following last year's UK General Election we are stronger than any time in the last half century. Our share of the vote went up from 16% to over 22%. We came second in share of the vote and number of seats. We won two new constituencies in Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey, and East Dunbartonshire. For the first time, our share of the vote in Scotland's four-party system was higher than the Liberal Democrat share across the rest of the UK."
The pre-manifesto offers a vision for a bright future for Scotland with Nicol Stephen as Scotland's First Minister.
The pre-manifesto is organised into themes, which set out the approach that Scottish Liberal Democrats will take to the Scottish Parliament election next May: pro environment, pro young people, and pro enterprise.
It also takes an innovative approach to health and wellbeing with policies that recognise the links between the environment people live in and their long term health. It is also strong on community power, setting out how we can achieve great progress in regenerating our communities if we put trust in local people.
Locally, Dundee Liberal Democrat party secretary Michael Charlton said, "We are the only party in Scotland with real momentum and the pre-manifesto will help us build on this, offering fresh ideas and positive solutions to the problems people face, not soundbites or negative politics.
"Here in Dundee, Liberal Democrats have shown their willingness to work positively with others to help drive our City forward. Across Scotland, the Liberal Democrats are making all the running - and this is replicated here in Dundee."