SNP call for “clean” poll campaign

By Steve Bargeton, political editor

THE SNP yesterday called on the other political parties to commit to a “clean” fight in next year’s Holyrood elections.

It is widely expected the elections in May will be close, with the a prospect of a different political group taking power.

With Labour battling to stay in office, the Liberal Democrats making a major surge and the Tories seeking a comeback north of the border, the SNP know the big parties will be pulling out all the stops.

Their concern is the big UK parties will bring enormous resources to bear to influence the outcome.

In a pre-emptive strike, SNP leader Alex Salmond and depute leader Nicola Sturgeon called on their opponents to agree a “clean campaign charter” on the financing and conduct of the election.

Their proposals include:

*An agreement all parties will fund campaigns from money raised by or donated specifically to them and will not accept cash from London head offices.

*New rules on campaign literature to ensure the party distributing it is clearly and legibly identified.

*An agreement on the use of endorsement quotes and party polling information to prevent fabrication.

Mr Salmond has written to the leaders of Scotland’s parties, suggesting an early meeting between party chairmen to take forward the proposal.

“We have an opportunity next year to demonstrate the sort of new politics people in Scotland expected when they voted overwhelmingly for a Scottish Parliament,” he said.

“It is now up to the Scottish parties to agree a set of rules to ensure that the electoral battle next year is fair, open and honest and does not involve the sort of financial shenanigans that we now know influenced the outcome of the 2005 UK poll.

“There must be no dirty money in this campaign.

“In each of the previous Scottish elections, the London parties have pulled in cash and resources from their London bases.

“That is no longer acceptable for a Scottish election. Scottish parties must learn to live within their own means.”

Ms Sturgeon said Scottish by-elections have raised “serious questions” about honesty in political campaigning.

She accused the Tories of poor conduct in the Moray poll, saying their candidate’s leaflets did not identify her party.

A Tory spokesman said, “In 2007, we will do as we have done before and outline a clear, honest alternative to the current government.”

A Labour spokesman insisted, “Labour has always campaigned cleanly with a focus on policies rather than personalities.”

But he added, “The same cannot be said for the SNP who ran one of the most personal and vindictive campaigns ever seen in 2003.”