Rose Gentle this afternoon threw down a challenge to Alex Salmond and called on
the SNP to stand down in East Kilbride, Strathhaven & Lesmahagow. Speaking after
the SNP said they were unable to stand down because of a constitutional
commitment to provide every Scots elector with the option to vote for
independence,
Rose Gentle challenges Alex Salmond: "I support independence, SNP
should stand down. Alex Salmond has sent a message of support to Reg Keys who is
standing against Tony Blair in Sedgefield.
"I was very disappointed that Mr Salmond has not seen fit to
contact me in any way regarding the Campaign For Justice For Gordon Gentle or my
candidacy in East Kilbride.
"I have been working closely with Reg Keys in the Military
Families Against War campaign.
"I challenge Mr Salmond to give his support to the family of a
young soldier killed in Iraq from a Scottish regiment as he is doing for Reg
Keys in Sedgefield.
"I support the call for Scottish independence.
"An independent Scotland would not have sent troops to fight an
imperialist war in Iraq and my son would not have been killed.
"If elected as MP for East Kilbride I would support the fight for
an independent Scotland and I call on the SNP to stand down."
The Scottish Socialist Party has already stood down in favour of
Rose's campaign and it is now time for the SNP to make a decision, do you put
your 'opposition' to the war before or after your desire to make political
capital for yourselves?
Rose Gentle also welcomed the news that the Save The Scottish
Regiments campaign are standing down in East Kilbride, Strathhaven &
Lesmahagow to allow Rose Gentle a clear run at Armed Forces Minister Adam
Ingram.
Rose said this afternoon;
"I appreciate the fact that Save The Scottish Regiments have
stood down to give me a clear run at Adam Ingram.
"I appreciate the fact that Save The Scottish Regiments
understand that I am supporting serving Scottish soldiers by calling for them to
be brought home from Iraq.
"I have been told that there is outrage amongst serving Scottish
troops in Iraq that they have been disenfranchised and are unable to express
their opposition to the Iraq war in this election.
"I pledge to represent those serving members of Scottish
regiments in this election.
"I now call on all other parties who have expressed opposition to
the Iraq war to stand down in East Kilbride.
"The SNP, the Green Party and the Liberal Democrats could help
punish the warmongering Armed Forces Minister if they now stand down and help
achieve justice for my son, killed in the illegal war and occupation of Iraq."
