The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
SNP puts spin before Scotland – Davidson
The Scottish Conservatives leader says the Nationalists are withholding data
The SNP have suppressed information from the public eye to avoid bad publicity, the Scottish Conservative leader has claimed.
Ruth Davidson told supporters in Perth that the Nationalist administration has blocked the release of everything from cancer treatment data to multi-billion-pound business deals with Chinese firms.
She said experts were queuing up to criticise the “political control-freakery” of Nicola Sturgeon’s party, including the architect of the Curriculum for Excellence, Keir Bloomer.
Mr Bloomer told The Courier last week that the only thing holding Ms Sturgeon back from reversing the “serious error” of withdrawing Scotland from international league tables is pride.
Ms Davidson said: “Time and time again, we see an SNP Government which puts short-term spin ahead of the long-term good of Scotland, because this is a government which puts the longterm good of Scotland behind its shortterm plans for independence.”
She said examples of the SNP sheltering itself from scrutiny include withholding data on the performance of Scotland’s five radiotherapy centres, delaying the publication of revenue figures for its house-buying tax and putting out press releases on beavers and dog poo on the day they signed a secret £10bn investment memorandum with two Chinese firms.
Ms Davidson added: “Frankly, this is an administration that would make (former Labour spin doctor) Alastair Campbell blush.”
She also sought to court first-time Tory voters and break the Scottish taboo of voting Conservative by telling them: “We’re not asking you to become a dyedin-the-wool Tory. Frankly, I know most people out there aren’t going to sign up for that. What we’re saying is ‘something needs to change, and you can be the ones to change it’.”
An SNP spokesman pounced on Ms Davidson’s comments about Land and Buildings Transaction Tax figures. She said the Nationalists were delaying publication until after the election to avoid revealing an embarrassing revenue shortfall.
“In her desperation to be relevant at this election Ruth Davidson has now resorted to just making things up,” the SNP spokesman said.
“The reality is that LBTT has been a great success, with revenues actually exceeding forecasts – and figures were published at the end of last month, and will be again this month. Ms Davidson should apologise for trying to mislead people on this issue.”
Time and time again, we see an SNP Government which puts short-term spin ahead of the longterm good of Scotland