First shots are fired ahead of Scottish Parliament election

The battle for the Uddingston and Bellshill seat in the Scottish Parliament has begun four months before the election.
Labour's Michael McMahon defeated the SNP's Richard Lyle in the 2011 election.Labour's Michael McMahon defeated the SNP's Richard Lyle in the 2011 election.
Labour's Michael McMahon defeated the SNP's Richard Lyle in the 2011 election.

Uddingston and Bellshill MSP Michael McMahon has pledged help for first time buyers by backing Scottish Labour’s first manifesto pledge ahead of May’s Scottish Parliament election.

If Labour wins power savers using a first-time buyer ISA with a Government top up to the value of £3,000 would be entitled to an additional £3,000 from the Scottish Government to help toward the cost of a deposit to buy a property.

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Mr McMahon, who is also Shadow Housing Minister, said: “Everyone deserves a home and a chance, but too many young people are either living at home with their parents or stuck in expensive rents unable to get that first foot on the housing ladder.

“Home ownership is a big ambition for hundreds of thousands of young people but for too many it remains an ambition rather than a reality.

“The expectation of home ownership, seen as almost a right for previous generations is now out of reach for too many people. That has to change!”

The scheme would be funded by reversing the current Scottish Government’s plans to cut air passenger duty

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His SNP opponent Central Scotland list MSP Richard Lyle has pledged to “keep Scotland moving forward”.

He said: “The SNP approaches this year’s Scottish Parliament election in buoyant mood and excited about the opportunity to lead a great, national debate about how we keep Scotland moving forward.

“Since coming to office in 2007 we have built strong foundations, but will never rest on our laurels and are

determined to continue this progress with a bold, ambitious and progressive vision for Scotland’s future.”