John Swinney’s decision to address an independence rally on the first weekend of the election campaign demonstrates how out of touch he is with ordinary people, Russell Findlay has said.
The SNP leader, who spoke at the event in Edinburgh, says he has a secret plan for another referendum if his party win a majority on May 7, and that the “prize” of independence is up for grabs.
Scottish Conservative leader Findlay, who was highlighting the plight of businesses by working at a restaurant in Perthshire today, insisted the election should be about the issues that matter most to Scots, such as the cost of living and crisis-ridden public services.
But, he said, Swinney had made independence “his only priority” and that it was imperative voters backed the Scottish Conservatives on their peach ballot to prevent the SNP securing a majority.
He added that the other opposition parties could not be trusted to defend Scotland’s place in the Union – including Reform, whose Scottish leader Lord Offord is fielding pro-independence candidates and has refused to rule out another referendum.
The Scottish Conservatives’ manifesto contains a range of pledges to prevent the Scottish Government wasting taxpayers’ money on pushing for independence.
Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay said: “While John Swinney was up a hill rabble-rousing with nationalist diehards, I spent the day talking with ordinary Scots in the real world.
“By leading a nationalist rally on the first weekend of the election campaign, he confirmed how out of touch he is with the people of Scotland.
“Waiting tables at a restaurant in Swinney’s back yard, I heard about people’s real concerns including cost-of-living pressures and the plight of Scottish hospitality businesses.
“Swinney’s flag-waving antics confirmed that independence will always be his only priority.
“He says that he’ll win a majority on May 7 and use that to demand another divisive and unwanted referendum.
“Across Scotland, voters can stop an SNP majority by backing the Scottish Conservatives on their peach ballot paper.
“Unlike weak Labour and the fake unionists of Reform, we’re the only party with the strength to stand up to the SNP and stand up for the Union.”
Notes to editors
Pictures of Russell Findlay working at the Riverstone Lodge and Restaurant in Perth are attached. More are available on request.
Here are the relevant proposals which will be in the Scottish Conservative manifesto:
Propose a new law to ban the Scottish Government from spending money on their push for another independence referendum. The Scottish Government have spent millions of pounds in taxpayer money campaigning for another independence referendum. The Scottish Conservatives will propose a new Bill in the next session of parliament that would ban ministers from spending taxpayers’ money or using civil servants to promote Scottish independence or another referendum.
Introduce a new pledge that all civil servants would have to be neutral on the question of independence when carrying out their work for the Scottish Government. We know that SNP ministers are distracted by their push for independence, but civil servants have carried out work on the nationalists’ campaign for another referendum too. The Scottish Conservatives believe that civil servants should be neutral on constitutional matters. Therefore, we would introduce a new section to the Scottish Civil Service Code making it explicit that civil servants must be neutral on the question of Scottish independence and must refuse to carry out work that advocates for Scottish independence or another referendum.
Abolish the SNP’s role of Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution. The SNP have consistently focused on another push for an independence referendum during their time in government. This is highlighted by the fact the constitution minister is a cabinet-level role. We would abolish this role in its entirety, as we have done in opposition, and replace it with a cabinet secretary focused on economic growth and businesses. This Cabinet Secretary will also assume the other functions held by the current Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution.