The Fair Deal for the North East campaign, launched at the Scottish Liberal Democrat Spring conference in Aberdeen today (Sunday 30th March) calls for investment in transport, housing and local government funding from Holyrood.

It’s led by the party’s MSP Alison McInnes, MPs Sir Malcolm Bruce and Sir Robert Smith, Christine Jardine PPC, group leaders Ian Yuill and Martin Kitts-Hayes and the councillors from Aberdeen city and shire.

In a joint statement the group said “The North East is the powerhouse of Scotland’s economy, with the UK’s second highest economic output per head of population after London. But our transport infrastructure is crumbling and all we get from the SNP is bluster and broken promises. We need to see concrete action from them.

“Our services are also under attack from the SNP’s centralising agenda. The North East needs fair funding for Aberdeen City and Shire councils and decent housing . These are essential if we are to continue to build a stronger economy and fairer society for everyone living in the North East.

“Since 2005, the Scottish Government has spent only 0.5 percent of its major infrastructure funding in the North East, and Aberdeen City Council continues to be the worst funded local authority in Scotland.

“We have all been stuck at the Haudigan roundabout, – commuters, hauliers, oil executives even the First Minister. It’s a gridlock that brings the city and our economy to a standstill during peak times.

“The North east deserves better, We will be urging everyone commuters, businesses and anyone who is fed up being short-changed to sign up to the Fair Deal for the North East campaign.

“Only the Scottish Liberal Democrats are committed to building a stronger economy and a fairer society for the North East. To achieve that the region must get the fair deal it deserves to make sure we can keep delivering more jobs, boosting growth and driving Scotland’s and the UK’s economy.”