Karen Whitefield
- Name:
- Karen Whitefield
- Party:
- Scottish Labour Party
- Constituency:
- Airdrie and Shotts
- Election result May 2003:
- 14209 votes (56.64%), first of five candidates
- Election literature available in Aspect:
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- Election policy statement:
- Frank & Betty from Shotts say
We will be voting Labour on May 1st because only Labour understands the needs of Scottish pensioners. The introduction of free off-peak bus travel and the £200 winter fuel allowance are making a real difference to local pensioners like us. The decision to provide free care for the elderly puts our minds at ease for the future."
Alison from Airdrie says...
"As a mother and a teacher, I will be voting Labour on 1st May. The health and education of my son are vital to me. That is why I welcome Labour's achievements of providing a nursery place for every 3 and 4 year old. I also welcome Labour's committment to provide free fruit for every Child during primary one and two."
Deirdrie from Shotts says...
"As a nurse. I believe that it is vital that the NHS receives sufficient resources to enable an excellent level of service to be provided to patients. In Lanarkshire, Labour has delivered two new hospitals and a new accident and emergency unit at Monklands Hospital. I will be voting Labour on 1st May to ensure that this progress continues."
Donna from Airdrie says...
"I am going to university after the summer. I am pleased that Labour has abolished tuition fees and introduced burseries for poorer students. I believe that Labour is committed to enabling more young people from ordinary backgrounds to go on to college and university. I will be using my first ever vote on 1st May to vote Labour."
Since my election in May 1999, I have worked hard on behalf of the people of Airdrie and Shotts. Key developments include:
- The Airdrie to Bathgate rail line
- Fast track Youth Court for Shotts & villages
- Campaigning against further landfill in Greengairs
- Securing a new A&E at Monklands Hospital
If re-elected, I will continue to work on the key issues affecting the people of Airdrie and Shotts; employment, health, education, crime and transport.
Fighting to improve transport
Karen has successfully campaigned for the re-opening of the Airdrie to Bathgate rail line, opening up employment, educational and recreational opportunities for the people of Airdrie. She has also fought for park and ride facilities at Harthill. In addition, after decades of Tory neglect, Labour will upgrade the A8 to a 3 lane motorway.
Fighting crime
Crime continues to damage our communities. Karen has worked to ensure that Shotts and the villages will benefit from one of the new Youth Courts. She has delivered CCTV cameras for Petersburn. Labour has set up the Drugs Enforcement Agency and introduced powers to confiscate the profits made by drug dealers.
Fighting for our environment
Since her election in 1999, Karen has campaigned vigorously against any plans to extend landfill around the village of Greengairs She has also backed the residents of Morningside in their protests against blasting at the nearby opencast mine. If re-elected, Karen will work to improve the planning laws.
Fighting to improve health
This year saw the opening of the new £2 million Accident and Emergency unit at Monklands Hospital. In Shotts, Karen has strongly supported local efforts to establish a Healthy Living Centre, due to open shortly. Nationally Labour has delivered free personal and nursing care for the elderly and will have built 8 new hospitals by 2003.
Karen Whitefield your Labour candidate for Airdrie & Shotts.
Labour's pledges
We will guarantee an appointment with a GP, nurse or member of the local health team within 48 hours.
We will introduce tougher sentences for dealers.
We will reduce class sizes in the key stages of secondary education.
We will extend free off peak bus travel for pensioners and the disabled to all journeys, Scotland wide.
Having created 20,000 aprenticeships, we will now increase that number to 30,000.
Fighting for better housing
Since 1999 Labour has delivered improved rights for tenants of local authorities and housing association as well as those who face homelessness. Across Scotland, the Warm Deal has helped make 137,000 homes warmer and more energy efficient, whilst the central heating initiative has benefited around 70,00 pensioners.
Fighting for better education
With Labour, Airdrie and Shotts will benefit from 4 new schools, including a brand new Airdrie Academy. Labour has also improved teachers' pay and guaranteed class sizes of 30 or less in the first 3 years of primary education. In addition, with Labour, money for school books and equipment has more than trebled to £119 million.
Fighting for our pensioners
Since coming into power, Labour has listened to the concerns of pensioners. Free off-peak bus travel enables many pensioners to visit family and friends. In Airdrie and Shotts, over 12,900 pensioner households have benefited from the £200 Winter Fuel Allowance and almost 4,000 pensioners now get a free TV licence.
Fighting for our young people
Labour has abolished tuition fees and introduced bursaries for poorer students, ensuring that all of Scotland's young people get the chance they deserve for further and Higher education. In addition. Labour has delivered on its pledge to create 20,000 modern apprenticeships and will increase this number to 30,000.
Dear Voter
It has been my privilege to serve as the Labour MSP for Airdrie and Shotts since 1999.
During this time I have successfully campaigned for the re-opening of the Airdrie to Bathgate rail line. I have worked to create a Healthy Living Centre for Shotts. I have fought to defend the people of Greengairs from the blight of further landfill operations adjacent to the village. I have run a busy constituency office, representing and fighting on behalf of local people.
I have worked as part of the Labour team in the Scottish Parliament to deliver:
- free personal and nursing care for the elderly
- free off-peak bus travel for pensioners and disabled people
- free central heating for the elderly
- free nursery places for every 3 and 4 year old
However, whilst we have made a positive start, much remains to be done. If re-elected, I will work to ensure that the Scottish Parliament continues to deliver on the people's priorities - health, education, transport and crime.
Yours faithfully
Karen Whitefield
- Further information:
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http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/msp/membersPages/karen_whitefield/