Next week’s Holyrood election is a chance for Scotland to “chart a new course”, SNP leader John Swinney has said.
The Scottish First Minister contrasted the “bright, optimistic and hopeful future” he said independence could bring Scotland with the “damaging” impact of Westminster decisions on austerity and Brexit.
Mr Swinney has already made plain his determination to win an overall majority for the SNP in Thursday’s Scottish Parliament election – something his party has only achieved once in its last four Holyrood victories.
He is insistent a repeat of that 2011 performance will result in a second vote on the future of the UK.
Making a stump speech in Stirling with less than a week to go to polling day, Mr Swinney said: “The people of Scotland next Thursday have the opportunity to chart a new course and to make sure that Scotland’s future is taken into Scotland’s hands.
“That’s what the election is all about, it is about who charts the future of our country.
“At the heart of this election campaign is an important choice that people in Scotland have got to make, and it is a choice about our country’s future.
“We can see what damage has been done to Scotland by decisions taken in Westminster that have undermined the opportunities for people in Scotland, whether that is prolonged austerity from Westminster or the effects of Brexit on Scotland, which we did not support and was imposed upon us against our will.”
He went on to state that an SNP majority in the Scottish Parliament would also allow him to push ahead with measures aimed at helping people through the current cost-of-living crisis – claiming rival parties want to stop the SNP from acting.
Mr Swinney has vowed to curb the price of some essential foods, extend a £2 cap on bus fares, help first-time buyers get on the property ladder, and provide more childcare to help families.
“That is a set of proposals from the SNP to help people in their time of need in a cost-of-living crisis,” the First Minister said.
He added it shows “the Scottish Government, the SNP Government acting within its powers to help the people of Scotland”.
On energy prices – one of the main factors causing financial stress currently for households and businesses – he said it is the UK Government which has to act.
Stressing rising fuel prices are “underpinning the difficulties people face”, Mr Swinney said decisions in this area lie with Westminster, but “Westminster is dithering while people are suffering in Scotland”.
He told supporters: “On the cost-of-living challenges and issues that people face today, we bring forward the positive solutions.
“But when it comes to the energy challenges people face, or the challenges about accessing European markets or making sure that business can perform well in the European markets, we need independence to make sure Scotland is able to take the decisions that are in the best interests of the people of Scotland.”
