Scotland Can’t Afford Another 10 Years of Broken Westminster Promises

The SNP has said Scots can’t afford another 10 years of broken Westminster promises, reflecting on the 10 years since the Scottish independence referendum and calling for “a new national conversation about our shared future.”

The SNP pointed to ten broken promises of the No campaign: 

1. The promise of EU membership and citizenship for all Scots, broken by Brexit. 
2. We were told to vote No to protect our NHS – but in years since the Tories left it vulnerable to trade deals and Labour are holding the door wide open to privatisation.
3. We were told that the UK was better placed to support Scotland’s most vulnerable, and now Scottish families are suffering under cruel policies like the two child cap.
4. Promises to pensioners that they would be protected are long gone as the UK provides the lowest pension among neighbouring countries, WASPI women are still being failed and vital support like the Winter Fuel Payment has been cut.
5. Labour’s pledge that voting no would consign years of Tory rule to history was seen off by another 10 years of it as part of the UK.
6. Scotland was promised more powers and strengthened devolution, but Westminster has undermined the Scottish Parliament at every opportunity.
7. Scots were told they would be safer, more secure in the UK; but we’ve seen breaches of international law and Britain become the laughing stock of Europe.
8. Promises of economic security and lower bills instead played out as record inflation and economic turmoil.
9. Promised investment in carbon capture projects, like Acorn in the North East, has yet to materialise. 
10. Staying in the UK was to unlock Scotland’s energy potential, but Scots still pay higher transmission charges and Labour’s plans threaten thousands of North Sea jobs.

SNP Depute Leader Keith Brown said:

“The last ten years have seen Scotland dragged out of the EU against our will, Boris Johnson and Liz Truss imposed on us and Scottish democracy repeatedly trampled over.

“This is what Scotland has had to grapple with following promises made in 2014 which have since been broken.

“However the SNP is determined that the next 10 years look very different for Scotland, and independence is at the heart of our vision.

“As an independent country, we would have the powers to make lives, communities and public services better; the chance to rediscover our sense of optimism about what lies ahead.

“Scotland can’t afford more broken Westminster promises, and the SNP believe the time is right for a new national conversation about our shared future as an independent nation.”