Nicola Sturgeon launches SNP manifesto with condemnation of 'constant chaos' at Westminster
The First Minister wants to be given the powers for another referendum by the end of the year
Last updated 27th Nov 2019
Scotland's First Minister has accused the main Westminster parties of delivering “constant chaos” since the 2014 Scottish independence referendum.
Launching her party's manifesto in Glasgow, Nicola Sturgeon said: “The leaders of the No campaign, made up of the Westminster parties, promised that if we voted No, we would get stability.
“Since then, the Westminster parties have delivered not stability, but constant chaos and three UK general elections.”
She added that Scotland will pay a price for the Conservatives' “obsession” with Brexit and Labour's “woeful lack of leadership”.
She said the SNP backs a new, UK-wide referendum on EU membership.
But she added: “Jeremy Corbyn, incredibly, says that he is neutral on the issue of Leave or Remain.
“That means he is neutral on job losses, cuts to living standards and the erosion of our rights.
“And, of course, he would be happy to sit back and see Scotland taken out of the EU, even if there is a majority for Remain in Scotland but not in the UK.”
The First Minister reiterated her assertion that Brexit will “dominate” Westminster in the coming years, adding “Scotland will pay a heavy price for the Tories' Brexit obsession and Labour's neutrality, or to give it its proper description, Labour's woeful lack of leadership.”
She said Scotland's future is at stake in the General Election, asking Scottish voters to consider who should decide the future of Scotland – “the people of Scotland, or Boris Johnson?”
She said she is open to forming a “progressive alliance” with other parties following the election.
But she added: “Unlike the Liberal Democrats, the SNP will never, ever help the Tories into government, but we will be prepared to talk to other parties about forming a progressive alliance.
She demanded more UK government investment in the NHS and a “real end to austerity”.
She said: “A potential UK government that wants our support must reverse that cut to our budget and ensure real-terms growth thereafter.
“A party seeking our support must be prepared to set out how they will repair the damage of a decade of austerity and put back the money that's been lost.”
Ms Sturgeon told the audience her party would “stop the Tories from selling off Scotland's health service.”
And she said “policies which are driving people into poverty” must be scrapped.
Attacking the Conservatives for providing extra funding for the DUP following the 2017 general election, she said: “Remember when the Tory government last needed a handful of votes from the DUP, they bypassed the Barnett Formula to find money for Northern Ireland.
“In the process they denied Scotland around £3 billion of investment.
“We say enough. It is time for Scotland to be treated fairly."
Hear the latest news on Clyde 1 on FM, DAB, smart speaker or the Rayo app.