Candidate Response – Kenny Smith, British National Party
Thank you for calling and offering me the chance to respond to the SRC manifesto in my capacity as lead candidate for the BNP on the Glasgow Regional List.
1, Asylum seekers should qualify for home-level funding- I do not believe asylum seekers should be charged at home rates because their status as citizens of the United Kingdom has not been confirmed. If they are successful in gaining citizenship then I would support a call for a back-dated re-imbursement of the fees. It is my belief that there should be benefits to being a British citizen and that the state should support its citizens before non-citizens.
2, Students should not be charged for prescriptions- I fully agree that students should not be charged for prescriptions, indeed nobody should be charged at all. This would also remove a great deal of the bureaucracy which currently over burdens the NHS too.
3, Top-up fees should be kept out of Scottish universities- The BNP is opposed to tuition fees and top-up fees. We would provide full state funding for students in both academic and vocational further education.
4, Spouses of international students should not pay Council Tax- I believe the spouses of international students should pay council tax.
5, Taught postgrad students should receive equal financial support I agree, postgrad students should receive equal financial support.
6, Stop Climate Chaos Yes agreed. In fact, the BNP believe that not only does the Scottish Executive need to take greater responsibility on this; Local Authorities need to be involved in the process by implementing and encouraging the use of more environmentally sound practises and procedures. Engaging students at every level of education – not just university – should be a must.
7, Tenancy Deposit Schemes should be introduced Yes Tenancy Deposit Schemes should be introduced in Scotland and in Northern Ireland too.
8, The HMO system needs to be revised I agree that there should be an increase in the availability of HMO properties for students to keep costs down and help to keep students safe.
9, Public transport should address the needs of students The BNP believe public transport should be free for students and we also believe that bus and train transport should be integrated with sensible timetabling for those in employment and education.
10, Contraception and GUM clinics should be easily accessible As a defender of family values and I cannot support the reinstatement of free contraception upon demand, nor can I endorse GUM clinics that give out the morning after pill to juveniles (Ref. 9yr old girl in Bridgend). Since the proliferation of GUM clinics, SDTs have increased dramatically as have the number of abortions. I don’t believe that these things are unrelated.
Yours sincerely,
Kenny Smith
British National Party – Local People First
P.O. Box 85, Glasgow, G51 2DS
0141 550 2180 & 07077 820263
glasgow@bnp.org.uk
http://www.bnp.org.uk