First Minister John Swinney kicks off his General Election campaign tour in Shetland today, as the SNP Government announces a £5 million package of investment for Scotland’s island communities.
The SNP leader will attend a campaign event in Lerwick, alongside local candidate for the Orkney and Shetland constituency Robert Leslie, where he will tell activists that history proves “the SNP is the only party that will put Scotland first.”
Ahead of the visit, SNP Leader John Swinney said:
“Scotland has been totally failed by Westminster – but in many ways it is our rural and island communities who have suffered the most in recent years.
“Despite the people of Scotland overwhelmingly rejecting Brexit, leaving the EU has seen key rural industries and public services now unable to fill vacancies, investment stripped away from local communities, and our young people deprived of the opportunity to work, travel and study in Europe.
“The cost of living crisis caused by the Tories’ sheer economic incompetence has been felt acutely by families in rural Scotland – who were already suffering after fourteen years of brutal Westminster austerity.
“Neither Labour nor the Liberal Democrats offer any alternative to broken Brexit Britain.
“The SNP is the only party that will put Scotland first, as history proves. We are the only party that offers people in Scotland a route back into the European Union through independence.
“And under my leadership as First Minister, the SNP is the only party that will continue to remain focused on the priorities of the people of Scotland.
“That’s why I am delighted to be here in Shetland today announcing £5 million of SNP Government investment in our island communities.
“Alongside our top-class candidates who are in place across every constituency in Scotland, I will take the SNP’s positive message of hope for a better future for Scotland to every doorstep in the country.
“Vote SNP at this election and put Scotland’s priorities first.”
