Following the visits to Scotland from both Boris Johnson and Keir Starmer, the SNP has said it has been made crystal clear that the Tory and Labour party have nothing to offer Scotland but insults.
Boris Johnson used a visit to the North East to heap praise on Margaret Thatcher’s industrial policies – despite the lasting damage they caused to Scotland.
The “crass” comments received backlash from across the country, including from the Scottish Tories.
The Prime Minister also refused to meet with Nicola Sturgeon, the First Minister of Scotland, and confirmed on his visit that the UK government would push ahead with social security cuts that will leave half a million Scots poorer and worse off.
The Labour party leader, whilst in Glasgow, essentially said the city wasn’t up to scratch to host COP 26 – despite the city having already hosted the Commonwealth Games and Scotland leading the way on tacking the climate crisis in the UK.
Commenting, the SNP’s Depute Westminster Leader Kirsten Oswald MP (pictured) said:
“Neither the Tories nor the Labour party have anything positive to offer Scotland – and that is why they are continually rejected in election after election here.
“It speaks volumes that the Tory party are now approaching 70 years of rejection in Scotland.
“This was made clear on their visits this week when both party leaders had only insults to give – proving again how out of touch they really are with the people of Scotland.
“Instead of putting forward real and meaningful policies that would make a difference to the people of Scotland, Boris Johnson praised Thatcher’s industrial policies – which caused devastation for Scottish communities – and confirmed austerity cuts that will hit half a million Scots, and Keir Starmer patronised the city of Glasgow.
“Both also insulted people’s intelligence by attempting to suggest Scotland’s enormous renewable energy potential couldn’t thrive without Westminster control, even though both the Tory and Labour party have presided over a charging regime that holds the industry back.
“And to add insult to injury, both stood in the face of the Scottish electorate’s choice to deny the mandate for a referendum on recovery for Scotland.
“Indeed, opposition parties seem to be making the case for a referendum for recovery for Scotland without our help.
“The fact that Keir Starmer and Labour want Boris Johnson and Westminster to control the economic levers in the recovery period just underlines how out-of-touch Labour have become with Scotland.
“Even before the pandemic, the UK was the poor man amongst its neighbours in North West Europe with the lowest wealth per head, lowest post-work pensions, greatest inequality and highest poverty.
“This record shows exactly why it is the people in Scotland who should be in control of our recovery, not the Tories at Westminster.
“It becomes clearer by the day that Scotland is increasingly vulnerable under Westminster control.
“The only way Scotland can secure a strong and equal recovery, and reach its potential, is through a referendum for recovery and by becoming an independent country inside the EU.”
