Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Sturgeon unveils party manifesto
A vote for the SNP will “strengthen Scotland’s hand” against a Conservative government at Westminster, Nicola Sturgeon said as she launched the party’s General Election manifesto.
The publication of the document, delayed from last week due to the Manchester terror attacks, comes as the SNP leader suggested the possibility of a “progressive alliance” that would pursue “progressive policies” at Westminster if the June 8 election resulted in a hung parliament.
But speaking before the launch of the document in Perth, Ms Sturgeon emphasised the likelihood of a Tory victory, despite a narrowing of the polls with Labour.
The SNP leader is hoping to build on her party’s 2015 success of winning a record 56 out of 59 Scottish Westminster seats, and has sought to frame the election campaign as a two-horse race against Theresa May’s party.
She said: “Now, more than ever, we need strong SNP voices at Westminster standing up for Scotland against an emboldened Tory government.
“While the polls have narrowed, the Tories are still on course to win the election.
“Labour proved beyond any doubt that they were unable to provide the opposition needed to keep the Tories in check in the last parliament.
“Only the SNP can provide the strong opposition that Scotland needs to protect our schools, hospitals and vital public services from deeper Tory cuts and further damaging austerity. And if the SNP win this election in Scotland, it will strengthen the country’s hand when it comes to opposing cuts, defending our place in Europe and on choosing our future as a nation.”
The party has already set out a number of pledges, including a promise to retain the triple lock on pensions and an “antiausterity plan” for additional investment in public services.
On Brexit, it has put forward proposals to keep Scotland in the European single market, with Ms Sturgeon insisting that support for her party can give her a mandate for a role in the EU talks.
However, references in the manifesto related to another independence referendum are likely to be the focus of attention. Ms Sturgeon has already called for a second vote on Scotland’s constitutional future to be held between autumn 2018 and spring 2019 – a demand that has been rejected by the UK Government.