Never has so much been at stake, Sturgeon tells voters
● Boris Johnson restates opposition to another independence referendum
Nicola Sturgeon today warns “never has so much been at stake” as she makes her final bid to the nation as Scotland goes to the polls.
The First Minister admits she had made mistakes in her handling of the pandemic, but urged voters to give her another chance by insisting only the SNP had a plan for “serious" government.
Her final plea to the public comes after Prime Minister Boris Johnson yesterday reiterated his opposition to a second referendum, insisting it was “not the the time”.
In a statement today, Ms Sturgeon says the pandemic created "extraordinary challenges", but insists she had done her best.
She says: “Democracy is precious and we are fortunate that today those of us lucky to live in Scotland can go to the polls today to decide who should be in government.
“I hope as many people as possible
exercise that right – because never has so much been at stake.
“As First Minister I haven’t got everything right over this past desperately difficult year but I have worked my hardest every day and brought total commitment to the task of keeping Scotland safe.
"Today the people of Scotland will decide whether I or one of my opponents should be making the critical decisions about our path out of the pandemic and into recovery.
“If I am given the privilege of being re-elected as First Minister my promise to Scotland is to continue to bring all my experience and focus to the over-riding priority of keeping you and your family safe.”
The First Minister claims only her party has a “serious programme” that could build a “better future”.
She promises to fixnhs waiting times, a job recovery plan, and a transition to net zero to tackle the climate emergency.
The First Minister also pledges more support for low incomes families, investment to tackle the poverty related attainment gap in education, and practical help with the cost of living.
Ms Sturgeon also attacks the Prime Minister, claiming he and his “band of Brexiteers” are taking Scotland in a direction it did not want.
She continues: “Their hard Brexit is costing jobs and will mean a permanent hit to Scotland’s economy.
“Their brutal welfare cuts are creating yet more inequality and their desperation for a US trade deal means our NHS is definitely not safe in their hands.
“That’s why I believe people in Scotland have the right to decide whether to become an independent country – once the COVID crisis has passed.”
Her final pitch to voters comes less than 24 hours after Mr Johnson was challenged on whether he would allow a referendum if people in Scotland voted for pro-independence parties.
Refusing to directly say no, Mr Johnson suggested it was best to “wait and see what actually happens”.
He said: “I think that most people in Scotland, most peoplearoundthewholeoftheuk, feel that this is not the time, as we’re coming forward out of a pandemic together, this is not the time to have a reckless, and I think irresponsible, second referendum.
“We had one only a few years ago. I think what most people want is to focus on the country and taking it forward and
rebuilding our economy and getting people into work.
“That seems to me to be the priority.”
For Scotland to hold a legal referendum, Westminster would have to pass a section 30 order allowing a vote to go ahead.
The Prime Minister has repeatedly ruled out doing so, despite the Scottish Tories tweeting this week that an SNP majority was a “guarantee” of a second referendum.
Meanwhile former Prime Minister Gordon Brown
claimed if the SNP could not solve problems in Scotland over the past 14 years, they should stand aside for the Labour Party.
Speaking at a drive-in rally of supporters in Glasgow, Mr Brown talked up new Labour leader Anas Sarwar while urging voters to turn out for the party today.
He said: “If the SNP could not solve the health problem, the waiting list problem, the mental health problem, the social care problem in any one of the 14 years in government, they
will never solve the problem now.
“That’s why they should give way to the Labour Party, who can do it.
"We need Labour MSPS who believe in the policy of full employment.
“We need Labour MSPS who will link up with Manchester, Liverpool, Birmingham, Newcastle, Sheffield, Bristol - mayors of all these places - and the First Minister of Wales.
"Because in an integrated economy like ours, you cannot win full employment in one country unless you work for full employment in all countries."
Mr Brown also claimed the SNP were more focused on independence than tackling the “scandal” of child poverty.
He said: “It's rising drastically - 300,000 children in poverty in Scotland and the figure going up in the pandemic.
"Poverty is not just a scandal for children, it is a crime. And I say you can't solve the problem of child poverty without using all the resources of the United Kingdom.
"And that's why instead of independence and getting out of the United Kingdom, we need to force the case for resources from all over the United Kingdom to fight child poverty in our midst.
"That's the difference: We want to end child poverty, the SNP want to end the United Kingdom.
"They wake up in the morning thinking about a referendum, we wake up in the morning wanting a recovery.”