First Minister John Swinney has accused other parties of running negative campaigns on the last day before the Holyrood election. Mr Swinney said people should vote “positively” for his party on Thursday as he accused his opposition of campaigning only to stop the SNP.
Polls have put the SNP well ahead in this year’s election, but some have the party falling short of a majority. A major YouGov poll published in the Times on Wednesday put the First Minister’s party on 62 seats, three short of the majority he seeks. Mr Swinney said at least 65 seats would be enough to apply extra pressure on Downing Street to grant another referendum on Scottish independence.
Speaking in Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, which his party lost in a by-election last year, Mr Swinney said: “I want people in Scotland to vote positively for an SNP government that will always be on Scotland’s side.” He highlighted the SNP’s pitch to voters, including a £2 cap on bus fares, a ceiling on the price of essential foods, and £10,000 in joint-equity support for first-time buyers.
Asked if not winning a majority would be considered a defeat, the First Minister said: “I’m going to concentrate on winning the election and winning the election is absolutely central to my thinking and my campaign.”
