Next Monday, the Scottish National Party and Welsh NationalistsPlaid Cymru will lead a debate at Westminster. The motion we aredebating promotes an alternative political agenda based on socialjustice and equality rather than the Thatcherite philosophy whichnow dominates the policies of both the Tories and Tony Blair'sNew Labour. We want to inject vision and values into an electioncampaign which has so far seen the London parties pandering toa narrow group of target voters in Middle England, at the expenseof the interests of the wider community.

We want to put the needs of all the people of Scotland, Walesand the rest of the UK into sharp focus. We will be presentingthe case for policies designed, not in the interests of the few,but in the interests of the many. We will highlight the threatposed to the cohesion of our society by the ongoing Tory policyof tax cuts for the rich and spending cuts for the poor and callingfor an alternative based on investment in all our futures.

The hopes and aspirations of millions of people across the UKwere cast aside when New Labour adopted the same tax and spendingplans of the Tories. New Labour are turning their eyes to thevotes of Middle England at the expense of the legitimate needsof the wider community. Our debate will show that an alternativevision, based on equality and social justice is not only possible,but will lay the foundations for a society where every citizenis best able to contribute.

Two more years of Tory spending cuts - guaranteed from both Labourand Tories - will place an even greater strain on the most vulnerablein our society. And this is an area where we can learn a greatdeal from Ireland. They have the most successful economy in Europe,attracting inward investment in key sectors, and are also fullysigned up to the Social Chapter. They are creating wealth for all their citizens, investing thatwealth in education for the future, and offering better socialprotections for the most vulnerable groups in their society. Theyare proof that economic success can go hand in hand with socialjustice and equality, and that investment in the social fabricof society generates benefits, not for a few, but for all membersof the community.

The SNP and Plaid are speaking up for the voters in Scotland andWales who have continually rejected the Thatcherite agenda whichnow guides the thinking of both the Tory and Labour leadership.The debate will highlight the choice that the electorate have- reversing the short term polices of Labour and the Tories, orfacing the continued breakdown of our social fabric. We must investin people's futures and lay the foundations for a society basedon community and equality, not the blind pursuit of personal advantage.

Margaret Ewing MP
SNP Parliamentary Leader

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If you would like to know more about the SNP and HELP SCOTLAND contact snp.hq@snp.org.uk or visit the official the Scottish National Party web site.

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