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John Swinney will hit out at the Prime Minister for a failure to secure Scotland’s industrial assets.
First Minister John Swinney will compare Sir Keir Starmer’s failure to protect Scotland’s industrial assets to Margaret Thatcher’s legacy when he effectively fires the starting gun on May’s Holyrood election today.
The SNP leader will use a keynote speech in Glasgow to argue that the case for independence will improve living standards and ensure Scotland’s wealth works for the public.
Keir Starmer risks becoming branded a ‘second Thatcher’ in Scotland, John Swinney has claimed (Picture: Andy Buchanan/WPA Pool) | Getty ImagesMr Swinney will suggest that despite Scotland making a significant contribution to the UK economy, economic decisions made at Westminster have halted the benefits being seen north of the Border.
It is understood the First Minister will argue a renewed case for separation would bring about lasting benefits to the Scottish public. He is poised to hit out at the Labour Prime Minister for failing to safeguard Scotland’s industrial assets since entering Downing Street last year.
Mr Swinney is expected to say: “Westminster control of Scotland’s resources does not work for us. We see that in their complete failure to support key industries in Scotland.
“That is why, when I met the Prime Minister on Friday, I made clear the existential nature of the current threat.
“I left him in no doubt that, unless he changes course, what we face is a second wave of 80s-style deindustrialisation, 80s style economic devastation.
“If Keir Starmer does not change course he will enter our national story as a second Thatcher, a second destroyer of industry, a second destroyer of communities, and Scotland will not forget.”
SNP leader John Swinney (Picture: Jeff J Mitchell) | Getty ImagesHe will added: “That is why we speak of independence as the fresh start Scotland needs. A fresh start from the chaos of a Westminster system that is fundamentally broken and beyond repair.
“And a fresh start financially and economically. A fresh start because with Scotland’s future in Scotland’s hands, our nation, our fellow citizens, can finally see the benefit of our vast wealth.
“Let us not let Westminster take the decisions and take the wealth. We will be better off with independence, better off with Scotland’s future in Scotland’s hands.
“That is the fresh start that only independence offers. It is the fresh start our nation can choose in May next year, only by voting SNP.”
But Scottish Labour deputy leader, Jackie Baillie, has called on Mr Swinney to switch his focus from independence.
Scottish Labour deputy Labour Jackie Baillie (Photo by Lisa Ferguson) | Lisa FergusonShe said: “Anyone who has walked down a high street hollowed out on the SNP’s watch, sat in an A&E waiting room for hours on end, or watched their council struggle to fix roads and collect bins wishes that John Swinney would wheesht with the blame game and get on with the day job.
“Instead of fixing the damage in our public services, the SNP is once again talking up independence as a distraction from his own failures.”
Dame Jackie added: “From the crisis in our NHS to the violence in our schools and the pressure on councils, the SNP has left every institution in Scotland weaker after nearly two decades in power and they are hoping Scotland won’t notice.
“This is not as good as it gets, in just five months we have the chance to put a stop to SNP decline and vote for a fresh start with Scottish Labour.“