Dave Thompson MSP

The Editor
Ross-shire Journal

Dear Sir

Alan MacRae (Ross-shire Journal 16th July) is quite right when he says that the SNP group on the Council set aside the funding for the care homes when it was in charge and I am proud of them for doing so. His LibDem colleagues, on the other hand, broke their promise and withdrew the funding despite having £60 million to spend this year.

Responsible government is all about making choices and the LibDems have chosen to privatise the care homes which will lead to poorer wages and conditions (a 30% reduction) for the carers and Mr MacRae can’t cover this up.

As for raising Council Tax, the SNP Government has funded Councils the equivalent of an inflationary increase each year and I don’t believe that anyone in Highland, apart from the LibDems, now wants a 20% rise in their Council Tax.

I fear Mr MacRae is putting up a smokescreen to hide the unpalatable truth about the LibDems in government, be it locally or nationally. They favour the rich over the poor and have abandoned their principles for power. How else do you explain broken promises on council housing debt, fuel prices, VAT on mountain rescue teams and trident missiles, to name just a few?

Yours sincerely,

Dave Thompson,
MSP Highlands and Islands (SNP)
Thorfin House
Bridgend Business Park
Dingwall