That’s some bottle ...Swinney offers to sign whisky for election cash
THE Holyrood election is only two months away – but Covid restrictions mean traditional campaigning is out of bounds for candidates.
Hopefuls will be unable to doorstep members of the public or hold community events, with much more funding likely to be needed to cover the cost of leaflets and postage.
However, some well-known faces have started offering rewards to encourage generous supporters to help them pay for all this.
Deputy First Minister John Swinney is among those offering incentives to SNP donors willing to contribute a certain amount to the war chest.
Describing May’s vote as ‘the most important election of our lifetime’, Mr Swinney’s crowdfunding page offers those who give £200 or more a bottle of single malt whisky – signed by him.
The post says: ‘These are extremely limited and usually go for much more money at SNP auctions. Keep it for our independence night or hang on to it as a keepsake of the election that got us there. The choice is yours.’
Those giving £60 or more get a ‘ticket for a special SNP social event with some special SNP guests’ once Covid restrictions are lifted.
Meanwhile, £30 gets you 2021 campaign materials ‘signed by John Swinney himself’. The post adds these are ‘sure to be a collectors’ item, with this election being the launchpad towards Scotland’s independence’.
The page goes on: ‘John knows that times are tough, and so wants to give back to those who are kind enough to support him.’
Mr Swinney, who is standing in Perthshire North, has raised more than £11,000. Scottish Greens coleader Patrick Harvie’s crowdfunder brought in more than £3,000.
Donations above £25 were rewarded with a ‘Scottish Green Party enamel badge’, while a £100 gift-giver would earn contributors ‘a phone call from Patrick letting you know how the campaign is going’.
A signed copy of the Greens’ Holyrood manifesto is the reward for a donation of £150.
Clare Adamson, standing as an SNP candidate in Motherwell and Wishaw, offers a Zoom meet and greet video chat to people donating £5.
Meanwhile, Labour’s Jackie Baillie – whose public profile has rocketed thanks to her role as a member of the committee on the Salmond inquiry – has raised £14,000 for her campaign in Dumbarton, without having to offer any incentives.