Seminar chaos
A tale of two cities, a tale of two conferences.
Not Dickens’novel set in London and Paris but the contrast between two gatherings held a week apart in Manchester and Glasgow.
The Tories’gathering in Manchester was an exercise in chaos. The series of unfortunate events throughout Theresa May’s speech might, individually, have been accidental, incidental or coincidental but they were emblematic of the mess the UK party of government finds itself in.
A leader’s cold, a comedian’s stunt and failed lettering do not, in and of themselves, a party in trouble make. But the backstabbing and backroom briefing do.
Theresa May is a prime minister whose coat is on a very shoogly nail indeed and the UK government is failing to make any headway whatsoever on the one issue that defines them at present, Brexit.
By contrast, I joined my colleagues in the SNP on the banks of the Clyde for a conference that was upbeat and inspiring, a party unified and with a real sense of purpose.
The SNP have won seven elections in Scotland in the last six years and our lead in the polls is greater than at this point after either the 2007 or 2011 elections.
The reality in Scotland is that the Tories haven’t won a single election in Scotland for 60 years and Labour are leaderless.
With chaos on either side we will continue to work hard for people in Scotland.
The SNP is delivering progressive government: we’re addressing the issues people care about the most and putting forward an ambitious plan to build a new Scotland.
The SNP is protecting Scotland’s interests – by investing in public services, protecting people from Tory welfare cuts and arguing for the best deal for Scotland out of Brexit.
And we are making your voice heard – at home and around the world, speaking up on issues like climate change, tackling inequalities and protecting equal rights. Our actions are more important than ever because the opposition parties are fighting among themselves.
The Tory bubble has burst – both their party and their government are in chaos. Labour, meanwhile, have delivered nothing while we deliver for people in Scotland every day.
Scotland has made great progress with the SNP in government:
Despite years of Tory cuts, we’re delivering the best public services anywhere in the UK and protecting the most vulnerable in society. We’re supporting family budgets, we’ve abolished prescription charges and restored Scotland’s proud tradition of free higher education.
We’ve delivered record funding and over 12,000 more staff for Scotland’s NHS. Recorded crime is at a 43-year low. Higher pass rates are over 150,000 for the third year in a row, and record numbers of young Scots are being accepted to university. We’ve set world-leading climate change targets.
Throughout our time in government, the SNP have stood up for Scotland and its people at every turn.