UK Tory manifesto light on detail regarding Scotland’s Parliament
THE UK TORY MANIFESTO will thwart the will of the Scottish Parliament, deploying austerity as a “cruel and callous attack on families” according to the SNP deputy leader Angus Robertson.
Released today (Thursday 18 May) the document held only five paragraphs under its Scotland heading and cited the nation 17 times choosing to focus on, in its words, “building a stronger and more precious union”.
Yet political opponents such as the SNP and Scottish Labour condemned the document, which accused the SNP of using Scotland’s vote to Remain in the EU as an attempt to “disrupt” the UK Governments attempts to exit the EU as “ a united UK.”
The Tory manifesto contains plans to restructure winter fuel allowances, social care and end the security of the triple lock on pensions – drawing complaints of its betrayal of older voters.
“This Tory manifesto means every Conservative candidate in Scotland is standing on a platform endorsing the abhorrent rape clause, the bedroom tax and swingeing cuts to social security payments.” James Kelly
Robertson, the SNP candidate for Moray, said: “The Tory manifesto is a cruel and callous attack on families – with deep austerity cuts that will hit pensioners, families, and our public services. Theresa May talked about ‘hard choices’ – and these will affect pensioners, disabled people, the vulnerable, and those on middle and low incomes.
“Now the Tories are hitting pensioners by effectively cutting their pensions and restricting the Winter Fuel Payment, and they are squeezing family budgets with their continued assault on welfare and their cuts to free school meals. The SNP already protect free personal care, free child care, free school meals, and will stand up against these callous Tory cuts.
“The Tories have made a rod for their own back because if they now fail to win the election in Scotland they have no basis whatsoever on which to continue to thwart the will of the Scottish Parliament.”
“The Tories have made a rod for their own back because if they now fail to win the election in Scotland they have no basis whatsoever on which to continue to thwart the will of the Scottish Parliament.” Angus Robertson
As part of the Scotland section of the manifesto, the Tories try to reassure voters about the security of fisheries and farming communities without providing any detail of what measures will be taken.
The UK Tory document also mentions that there should only be another referendum on Scottish Independence if there is “public consent for it to happen.” However, when contacted by CommonSpace, a spokesperson from Conservative central office did not specific exactly what was meant by the phrase “public consent” given that the SNP, which included the right to a referendum in its manifesto, currently holds Government and the majority of MPs [56] in Scotland.
A spokesperson for the party said to CommonSpace: “The Prime Minister has been clear that now is not the time for another divisive referendum. There is evidence that the case for a second referendum has not been made. Our program lays out strong support for Scotland’s industries and a future for Scotland in the UK.”
Labour MSP James Kelly said: “This Tory manifesto means every Conservative candidate in Scotland is standing on a platform endorsing the abhorrent rape clause, the bedroom tax and swingeing cuts to social security payments.”
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