Lib Dems now on war footing - Scott

11.01.00am GMT Wed 31st Dec 2008

Tavish Scott, leader of the Liberal Democrats in Scotland has declared that the party is now on a war footing for an early general election.

In his New Year message to members, Mr Scott warned that the Labour party was likely to cut and run before Scottish job losses and repossession figures climbed any higher.

Commenting, Mr Scott said:

"I am putting our party on a General Election war footing.

"Unemployment figures across the UK are the highest they've been for over a decade. Thousands of Scots face losing their jobs in 2009.

"The UK Government helped Lloyds TSB to swallow Scotland's bank - the Bank of Scotland. So Scotland will lose banking jobs, branches in every town and competition in the marketplace.

"There is a real chance that Labour will cut and run with an early general election before the impact starts to show across the country.

"If Labour think they can get away with it they will try. People are going to be angry at mounting job losses.

"Liberal Democrats will be ready with a positive programme to protect jobs, cut taxes for ordinary people and stop people losing their homes. Our plans to put Britain on a Green Road out of the Recession, will create jobs and leave a legacy that will save energy, put money back into people's pockets and fight climate change."