To step down at election
of office, but it is clear that Sir Keir Starmer has no vision beyond the status quo.
“If Starmer thinks, by grace of wearing a red rosette instead of a blue one, he can coast on by in Scotland during this election without meaningfully separating himself from the Tories – he can think again.
“Thankfully, though, for Scottish people, there is an alternative to the Tories with the SNP who won’t just stand up for these values, but have put their money where their mouth is – scrapping tuition fees in Scotland and committing over a billion pounds to support families affected by the worst of the Tories’ austerity policies.
“For a party that will never waver in its opposition to the Tories, and for a voice championing the values and protecting the policies Scottish people hold dear, vote SNP on July 4.” past 14 years have achieved a great deal for our country and people.”
He said it was “now the time” for a new candidate to take over.
Outgoing Tories Matt Hancock and Bob Stewart, who both had the party whip restored on Thursday evening, were among the other names not featuring on the ballot paper.
Hancock had the whip removed in 2022 after agreeing to appear on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!. Stewart relinquished the Conservative whip in November 2023 following his conviction for racially abusing an activist by telling him to “go back to Bahrain”.
His conviction was overturned on appeal in February.
Both Hancock and Stewart said they were stepping down prior to the election date being announced.
Former prime minister Theresa May and former chancellor Nadhim Zahawi are also stepping down.
On Thursday, the first day of the campaign, transport minister Huw Merriman and work and pensions minister Jo Churchill announced they are not seeking re-election.
Dame Eleanor Laing, the Deputy Commons Speaker, and former minister Michael Ellis are also stepping down.