Nick Clegg visits Edinburgh North and Leith

11.30.00am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 27th Apr 2010

Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg visited Edinburgh North and Leith yesterday (Monday 26 April) as part of his general election tour, to campaign for a better deal for our armed services, and to emphasise that Liberal Democrats are poised for a historic win in the constituency.

Nick Clegg and Kevin Lang at Lady Haig's Poppy Factory in Broughton

Mr Clegg set out his plans to pay and equip our armed forces properly and then joined Edinburgh North and Leith Liberal Democrat candidate Kevin Lang in a visit to Lady Haig's poppy factory in Broughton. He highlighted Liberal Democrat plans to double the number of forces' family homes refurbished each year, to ensure that no service man or woman goes into harm's way on less basic pay than a new recruit to the police, and to use the strategic security and defence review to make sure our forces have the kit they need for the job.

Speaking in Edinburgh, Nick Clegg said, "Someone spending six months fighting half way around the world to keep us safe should not have to worry about leaving their family in a shoddy, run-down home. They should not have to worry about whether they are paid enough to provide for their loved ones.

"Gordon Brown has failed to give our troops all the kit they need to do their job. And he has failed to give them a decent wage for the work they do and a decent home to raise their kids in.

"The Liberal Democrats are committed to a fair deal for our Armed Forces. We will bring forces' family homes up to standard in half the time the Government plans, and we will increase the salary of our lowest paid troops by £6,000.

Liberal Democrat candidate for Edinburgh North and Leith, Kevin Lang, said, "we were delighted to welcome Nick Clegg here to Edinburgh North and Leith.

"Nick Clegg's performances in the TV debates have shown his passion and conviction for a fairer Britain and have transformed the election campaign. It shows how seriously the Liberal Democrats are taking the contest in this constituency that our Party Leader was here on the very day that 11,000 voters will have received their ballot papers in the post.

"It was a real privilege to meet many of the ex-servicemen and women who work at the poppy factory. If I am lucky enough to be elected to Parliament I will work hard to get a fair deal for the brave men and women who put themselves in harm's way to keep us safe, and their families too.

"While I was visiting the poppy factory with Nick, our campaign team delivered a personal letter from me to every postal voter in the constituency. We are working flat out to make sure that everyone knows that the election here in Edinburgh North and Leith is a clear choice between our message of change and fairness, and the Labour candidate.

To find out more about the Liberal Democrat plan for a fair deal for our troops, visit www.libdems.org.uk/defence.aspx

Lady Haig's poppy factory manufactures all Scottish poppies for the annual poppy appeal in October and November. It employs 33 ex-servicemen and women, many of whom are disabled through active service. You can learn more about them and support their work by visiting their website, www.ladyhaigpoppyfactory.org.uk.