Scottish Tory Leader Vows to Stop SNP Majority and Second Independence Vote
Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay has pledged to "give absolutely everything" to prevent John Swinney and the SNP from securing a majority in next month's Holyrood election. He warned that an SNP victory could lead to a "living nightmare" of a second referendum on Scottish independence, describing the prospect as "not just concerning, but terrifying."
Manifesto Launch in Edinburgh
Speaking at the launch of the Scottish Conservative election manifesto in Edinburgh, Findlay emphasised the stakes of the upcoming vote on May 7. "We cannot allow John Swinney to plunge the next parliament into constitutional chaos," he stated. "If we prevent an SNP majority, we can stop John Swinney from pushing ahead with his plans for a referendum." He added that Scotland "desperately needs to break the SNP's toxic spell" after what he called "almost two dismal decades of SNP incompetence, failure and scandal."
Key Policy Pledges
The manifesto, which Findlay hailed as the "most comprehensive" ever produced by his party for a Holyrood election, includes several significant financial measures:
- A £500 tax break for pensioners, allowing them to claim back the first £500 paid in tax on pension income.
- Plans to cut household bills by up to £2,500.
- Income tax cuts costing £369 million in 2027-28, rising to £1.37 billion the following year, and nearly £2.8 billion by 2031-32.
Findlay argued these measures are affordable by ending "the SNP's obscene waste of taxpayers' money." He also highlighted savings from new restrictions on adult mental health benefit claims, estimated to save almost £2 billion a year by 2031-32.
Additional Savings and Commitments
The Conservatives plan further savings through:
- Introducing a two-child limit for the Scottish child payment.
- Cutting foreign aid spending.
- Ending free bus passes for asylum seekers.
- Closing the UK's only safe drugs consumption room in Glasgow.
Beyond fiscal policies, the manifesto pledges to raise standards in schools, ensure faster GP appointments, fix roads, and put more police on the streets. Findlay insisted, "This manifesto goes much deeper than these key pledges or election slogans. It offers a vision for a better Scotland." He described it as a path to a "brighter, more prosperous way for everyone," aiming to "get Scotland working" again.
With the Holyrood election approaching, Findlay's message is clear: the Scottish Conservatives are positioning themselves as the primary barrier to SNP dominance and a second independence vote, while promising economic relief and public service improvements.
