Ready to fight for Scotland
It’s just a few months since Theresa May gave the country her word that there would be no snap election.
It’s also a matter of weeks since her official spokesperson confirmed this stance. Fast forward to April 18 and we witness one of the most stunning U-turns in recent political history as the Prime Minister breaks yet another promise to the electorate.
We now face a General Election in just 48 days.
The Tories see this election as an opportunity to hammer home their right wing agenda of further austerity and a damaging hard Brexit. Under the guise of promising stability and unity, Theresa May has put the interests of her party ahead those of our country, with the hope of gaining a significant majority and crushing dissent from the other parties, or “saboteurs”to use the Prime Minister’s loaded language.
This election will also be about trust. In recent months we’ve seen distressing cuts in disability benefits penalising the most vulnerable in our society, plus an appalling rape clause forcing women to relive traumatic events in order to fill in eight pages of forms to gain just over £13 a week to support their third child.
Add to the mix the gaining momentum on a hard Brexit and it would be fair to say that this is a not a vision that represents the views of the Scottish people. In 2015 and then again in 2016 the Scottish people voted decisively to stay in the EU and voted decisively to turn their backs on biting Tory austerity and damage to our public services.
In Westminster the SNP have provided a strong opposition to fight for the wishes of the Scottish people, to protect Scotland’s interests increasingly ignored or regarded as insignificant by the Tories as they ride rough shod towards their right-wing vision.
The people of Scotland once again face a choice on our future. Your vote on June 8 will give you the opportunity to reject the Tories narrow, divisive agenda, for a more open, inclusive and civic-minded society.
Nicola Sturgeon announced this week that “we intend to win this election in Scotland and for Scotland”.
In the next coming weeks, with my colleagues, we’ll all be working hard to retain the trust of the people of Scotland and listen to your concerns. I look forward to seeking re-election on a positive platform to stand up for Scotland and to continue to fight for the best interests of the people of Ochil and South Perthshire.
PM Theresa May called for a snap election on June 8 to boost Brexit, something which Tasmina and Pete Wishart, below discussed with EU nationals earlier this month