Alan Butler
- Name:
- Alan Butler
- Party:
- Scottish Conservative & Unionist Party
- Constituency:
- Aberdeen Central
- Election result May 2003:
- 2616 votes (12.48%), fourth of five candidates
- Election literature available in Aspect:
-
- Election policy statement:
- It is time to Vote for Change.
The Executive has failed to address the needs of ordinary voters - a failing health system, falling education standards, increased concerns over Law and Order and the Scottish economy growth behind that of the rest of the UK. Yet we continue to pay higher taxes than ever before - is this value for money? The Liberal Democrats are as much to blame as the Labour Party in this Coalition Government and the SNP offer more of the same left wing agenda that is only failing us at present. Only the Scottish Conservatives offer the chance to give power back to local communities, provide more police officers on our streets, put patients, parents and pupils first giving them more choice, give power to our GP's, Hospitals and Headteachers.
All of this can only be delivered if we have a competitive economy; the Scottish Conservatives will reduce the burden on Scottish Business encouraging wealth for all. It is time to Vote for Change it is time to Vote Scottish Conservative.
Education
The Scottish Executive remains committed to the existing failing centrally-planned one-size-fits-all model for our schools that has failed so many of Aberdeen's young people. Over the last four years this approach has seen violence in the classroom increase, wasted millions of pounds on bureaucracy and failed to deliver improvements in attainment. Of the £4,500 per pupil allocated only £3,000 reaches the coalface - the Scottish Conservatives would devolve more funding directly to our schools. We would offer more schools specialising in areas such as the sciences, music, and sports. If children become disengaged with the education system then we would offer them a more vocational equivalent.
The Liberal Democrats promised to abolish tuition fees. However, now students in Aberdeen have to pay a graduate tax of £2,000 upon graduation and on earning £10,000 - this is simply another name for deferred tuition fees. We would abolish the graduate tax.
The Economy
Scottish economic growth has never exceeded UK levels since 1997 and Scotland has had two successive reductions in GDP growth for the first time in 20 years. When the economy begins to suffer it is the most needy in society that suffer the most. The, Labour / Liberal Democrat Executive has ensured that 1000 days of devolution has delivered 1000 new laws and almost 500 new regulations. On top of that, the North Sea oil tax will cost the oil industry at least £1.3 billion. When we were last in Government we established a Uniform Business Rate throughout the UK. Along came the Scottish Parliament and our businesses now pay rate poundage that is nine per cent higher than their competitors in England. The Conservatives can reverse the damage done to our economy. A low tax, low regulation economy is the best way to reduce poverty and offer economic security, reducing Business Rates to a UK level would be a welcome first step.
To reduce waste
The cost of the new Parliament building has risen from £40 million to nearly £400 million and there is still no date for completion. The Labour and Liberal Democrat Government continue to sign blank cheques, Scottish taxpayer money that could have built schools, hospitals and roads in Aberdeen. We also have over 900 extra civil servants in the Scottish Government, costing the Scottish taxpayer an extra £20 million a year. Instead of these extra civil servants we could have had 900 extra police officers, nurses, doctors or teachers. The number of ministerial cars has nearly trebled since 1997; it now costs over £600,000 to fund this fleet of cars in the same year when Aberdeen City Council is anticipating a £500,000 shortfall in education funding. The Scottish Conservatives will fight to reduce this wastage and for a leaner, fitter administration. It is the Scottish Conservatives that can be trusted to really make a difference.
- Personal details used in election:
- I grew up in Liverpool before going to University in Dundee and I have now spent the last 10 years in Scotland, 5 of those in Aberdeen. After graduating I joined Asda's graduate programme in Dyce. I performed several roles over the next 6 years with Asda, the last being that of Store Manager in Portlethen. In January I left Asda to become the Divisional Commercial Manager for a leading fashion retailer covering Scotland and the North of England. I have been politically active since University and I am also a Member of the Aberdeen Chamber of Commerce.
Alan Butler