Katy Gordon

MPs, MSPs and delegates at last weekend’s Liberal Democrat Scottish Conference have backed the local community’s fight to save the lane.

Alistair Carmichael MP, Charles Kennedy MP and Hugh O’Donnell MSP have already been to the lane in person to give their support, as well as Scottish Lib Dem Leader Tavish Scott.

Alistair Carmichael MP, Lib Dem Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland, said:

“Over 20 years ago, when I was a student at Glasgow University, I spent countless enjoyable hours browsing through the treasures of Voltair and Rousseau bookshop in Otago Lane. I well understand the outrage of local residents at the threat to this iconic West End lane posed by such an inappropriate development. Glasgow City Council should act to support character of the West End by refusing planning permission for this development rather than contributing to the destruction of what makes this part of the City special.”

Alison McInnes MSP, Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Local Government, said:

“I congratulate Katy Gordon and the Save Otago Lane campaigners for their sterling efforts to protect a unique part of Glasgow’s West End. The planning reform Liberal Democrats introduced when we were in govenrment in Holyrood was specifically designed to give greater weight to the local plan, such as the council’s Glasgow City Plan, and a greater weight to community opinion.

It’s clear that the local community doesn’t want this overdevelopment and wants Glasgow City Council to stick to the principles set out in its own City Plan. The council and the developers must listen to what local people are telling them and abandon this overdevelopment.”

Katy was delighted to sign the NUS pledge asking all MPs and candidates to promise to vote against any increases in university fees, and to fight for a fairer alternative for students.

The Lib Dems are the ONLY mainstream party committed to abolishing tuition fees across the UK, to bring the rest of the country in line with our achievements in Scotland while in government in Holyrood.

At this weekend’s Scottish Liberal Democrat party conference Katy successfully proposed a motion at this weekend’s  which provides clear, practical steps to ensure that Scotland’s young people do not become ‘the lost generation’ in the labour market. The motion was passed unanimously.

Despite the government’s claims that the economy is gradually showing signs of recovery, unemployment continues to rise for young people, with over a third of unemployed people under the age of 25.

Speaking at conference in Perth, Katy said:

“There is a real danger now that the biggest fallout from the credit crisis is the creation of a lost generation of young people who never make the transition from school, college or university into work…

There is no doubt about it: unemployment hurts. Bankers focused on their bonuses should stop and think: where will the productive workers of tomorrow come from if we don’t look after the skill levels of the future workforce today?”

The Liberal Democrats want to create a fairer society, where every child gets a fair start.  That includes a fair start in the job market.  This means giving young people meaningful employment experiences, whether through paid internships, a faster route into apprenticeships or access to practical, personal development programmes.