The SNP must guarantee public money will not be spent on their plans to launch a Scotland-wide independence campaign by the end of this year, the Scottish Conservatives have demanded.
Party Chairman Craig Hoy says taxpayers would be “appalled” if their money was used by the nationalists to continue their relentless pursuit of independence.
An amendment to the SNP’s latest independence strategy was agreed at the party’s conference on Sunday to launch a renewed independence campaign in the coming weeks. The campaign will use “digital and print” campaign assets, aimed at boosting support for breaking up the United Kingdom.
The amendment also committed the SNP to work in partnership with Yes groups and promote pro-independence voices from across Scottish society. They have already used £80,000 producing independence prospectuses during this parliamentary term.
Craig Hoy says as we head into winter there are far greater issues that deserve urgent resources and attention, rather than the nationalists’ constitutional obsession.
Dr Iain Kennedy of the British Medical Association says he expects “the worst winter ever” in Scotland’s NHS, while both the Scottish Police Federation and the Fire Brigades Union have warned of the threat to people’s lives if the SNP impose more cuts on the emergency services.
Scottish Conservative Chairman Craig Hoy MSP, said: “The SNP’s conference has made it crystal clear that independence will be front and centre of the party’s next General Election campaign. Every other issue will be pushed aside in order for the nationalists to continue their relentless pursuit of another referendum.
“Their latest campaign is set to start in a matter of weeks. During a cost-of-living crisis, it would be appalling if any public money was spent on this latest push to break up the United Kingdom.
“As we rapidly head towards winter, there are far more urgent issues which demand the SNP’s attention, than their constitutional obsession. The BMA Chairman has already warned of the worst ever winter in Scotland’s NHS, which is a terrifying thought for patients and frontline staff.
“Our emergency services are warning that people might die if the SNP continue to impose cuts on them. Those are the issues that are the real priorities facing Scotland. Money should be spent on supporting people struggling with the cost-of-living crisis and our public services which are overwhelmed on the SNP’s watch.
“Scotland simply cannot afford the SNP wasting taxpayers’ money yet again on their independence obsession.”
Notes
An extract of the SNP’s motion passed at conference states: ‘Conference agrees that by the end of the year the SNP will launch a Scotland-wide independence campaign, which will include digital and print campaign assets, aimed at increasing support for independence. The SNP will work in partnership with Yes groups and organisations and will promote pro-independence voices from all sectors of Scottish society.’
The SNP Government have wasted almost £80,000 on independence prospectus papers so far. ‘Independence in the modern world’ cost £18,992.76, ‘Renewing democracy through independence’ cost £10,033.95, ‘A stronger economy with independence’ cost £16,627.95, ‘Creating a modern constitution for an independent Scotland’ cost £18,011.39, ‘Citizenship in an independent Scotland’ cost £13,616.40. This brings the total to £77,282.45. (Scottish Daily Express, 20 September 2023, link).